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Test strip anomalies

Ricky

Well-Known Member
Messages
297
Location
Merseyside
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Does anyone else find that new batches of rest strips give completely different readings? I use FreeStyle lite and when I phone and moan about it and do their tests with the control vials they always say that a 10% difference is acceptable!

e.g September I was getting fasting reading of 5.2 with the batch before last and using the same blood sample the new batch read 5.9 . Another 4.8/5.3 (I liked October's batch they were all <5.0!!)
November 4.9/5.3

I liked December's batch!!
About to start a new batch again this morning 5.3 old 5.7 new!!

I give up - Have decided as long as I am less than 6 I should stop worrying about it!!!

Wouldn't it be nice if they were reliabe enough to give the same reading with the same blood sample.

I think I should add before someone else does that I know I am lucky to even get my strips on prescription!!! I think I have have been lost in the system at our GP's . I never go near them as I am afraid they will notice and stop my automatic prescription which is why I haven't had an Hb1Ac for a couple of years!!
 
You might be quite lucky with the strip differences. A test over a number of meter types showed differences from strip test to lab test of up to 20%! they're a guide really. I use a Bayer contour, and they purport to have a maximum deviation from a true (lab) result Of only 4% don't know if that's true, but they seem quite consistent.
 
I have never been denied test strips but am well aware that several docs in my practice are against testing. So as not to rock the boat I request 50 one touch ultra test strips about every 6-8 weeks,
I am on a very small dose of glimepiride which my diabetes nurse is always trying to stop. She is only deterred by my insistence that my levels would rise dramatically wwwere it sopped. I buy about 100
strips per month from Spirit health care at £12.50 for 50.
I find increasingly that the prescription strips contain more and more "duds" and I use more anyhow
as a larger blood sample is necessary and more "errors " occur. It seems such a waste of money .iCould I get the strips on prescription changed to bayer contour or caresens there would be far less waste I know I am fortunate to have any strips on prescription but recently out of a tub of 25 only 12 were useable. The whole thing is a shambles.
 
Well I can tell you that freestyle lite need the tiniest amount of blood for a test. I think it is 0.3ml.
 
I get 300 test strips from my gp every time I submit a prescription ( roughly every 4-5 weeks ) as I test 7 times a day. They did try and cut the amount but I saw the doctor and stressed the importance of me testing ensured that I didn't end up costing the nhs any more money by not testing and ending up in hospital!!! Needles to say they have been happy to continue giving them to me  I would go in and have a moan and see how you get on xx
 
If you mean me - I am controlling on a strict low carb/low GI diet + loads of exercise but no meds. I am therefore not entitled to any strips!!!
 
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