Diabetes > Blood Glucose and Diabetes Care > Diabetes Test Strips

Diabetes Test Strips

Test strips are used to test your blood glucose levels in blood glucose meters
Test strips are used to test your blood glucose levels in blood glucose meters

Blood glucose test strips (diabetes test strips) are one of the components of a diabetes monitoring system. Diabetic test strips are an essential part of monitoring blood glucose. A wide variety of diabetes test strips are available on the UK market.

How do diabetes test strips work?

Diabetes test strips do not work on their own, they are used in conjunction with a blood glucose monitor.

A diabetic pricks themselves in order to draw blood, which is then applied to the test strip. The blood glucose monitor is then able to detect how much blood glucose is present.

Other diabetic test strips can test for ketones, although these are less common that blood glucose testing strips.

Where can I get test strips?

Blood glucose test strips for diabetics are made by a variety of companies, both within the UK and abroad. Below is a table of manufacturers and the test strips their meters take.

You can choose to buy the specific test strips from the Diabetes Shop.

Brand
Test Strips
Abbott
Optium Plus Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 strips with 1 calibrator.
For meters:
  • Optium
  • Optium Easy
  • Optium Xceed
  • Boots meters
Abbott
Freestyle Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 strips.
For meters:
  • FreeStyle
  • FreeStyle Freedom
  • FreeStyle Mini
  • FreeStyle Navigator
  • InsuLinx
Accu Chek
For meters:
  • Accu-Chek Aviva
  • Accu-Chek Aviva Nano
  • Accu-Chek Aviva Combo
  • Accu-Chek Aviva Expert
Accu Chek
Accu Chek Active Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 strips.
For meters:
  • Accu-Chek Active
Accu Chek
Accu Chek Advantage Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 strips.
For meters:
  • Accu-Chek Advantage Plus
Accu Chek
Accu Chek Compact Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 strips.
For meters:
  • Accu-Chek Compact
  • Accu-Chek Compact Plus
Bayer
Bayer Contour Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 strips.
For meters:
  • Bayer Contour USB
  • Bayer Contour
  • Bayer Contour Link
  • Bayer Didget
Bayer
Bayer Breeze2 Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 strips.
For meters:
  • Bayer BREEZE2
GlucoRX
GlucoRx Test Strips
50 glucose test strips for use with the GlucoRx.
For meters:
  • GlucoRX
  • GlucoRX Nexus
IME-DC
IME-DC Test Strips
Comes as 2 pots of 25 strips.
For meters:
  • IME-DC blood glucose meter
Home Diagnostics
TRUEresult Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 test strips.
For meters:
  • TRUEresult
  • TRUEresult twist
Home Diagnostics
TRUEone Test Strips
TRUEone test strips come with the meter.
For meters:
  • TRUEone
OneTouch - Lifescan
OneTouch Ultra Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 test strips.
For meters:
  • OneTouch Ultra2
  • OneTouch UltraEasy
  • OneTouch UltraSmart
OneTouch - Lifescan
OneTouch Vita Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 test strips.
For meters:
  • OneTouch Vita
OneTouch - Lifescan
OneTouch Verio Pro Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 test strips.
For meters:
  • OneTouch Verio Pro
Menarini
GlucoMen Lx Sensor Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 test strips.
For meters:
  • GlucoMen Lx Plus
  • GlucoMen Lx
Menarini
GlucoMen Visio Sensor Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 test strips.
For meters:
  • GlucoMen Visio
Spirit Healthcare
CareSens N Blood Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 test strips.
For meters:
  • CareSens N
Wavesense
WaveSense Jazz Test Strips
Comes in packs of 50 test strips.
For meters:
  • Wavesense Jazz

How long do blood glucose strips last for?

Blood glucose test strips will usually have a use by date on the strips or box they come in.

After opening, blood glucose test strips will typically be good to use for another 3 to 6 months but refer to the box or information leaflet for advice specific to your brand of test strips.

Storage information of blood glucose test strips

The information below is generally applicable for most test strips, but refer to the information leaflet for specific advice on the test strips you use.

  • Store test strips at room temperature
  • Do not refridgerate
  • Keep test strips within the closed (sealed) vial
  • Do not use test strips that have been in contact with dirt, crumbs, food or liquids
  • Do not use test strips if they have been damaged in any way
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