What are Blood Glucose Testing Strips?

Blood glucose test strips are small, single-use strips made of plastic or other non-toxic materials. They are designed to analyze a small blood sample obtained by pricking the finger or alternate site testing. Most test strips measure blood glucose levels through an electrochemical reaction between the blood and chemicals embedded in the reagent pad of the strip. This reaction produces an electrical signal proportional to the Blood Glucose Test Strip concentration in the sample. The signal is read by a glucose meter which then displays the corresponding blood glucose level in units such as mg/dL or mmol/L.

How do they Work?

When a drop of blood is placed on the reagent pad, the blood mixes with chemicals on the strip. Glucose in the blood reacts with glucose oxidase, producing gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The amount of hydrogen peroxide generated is directly proportional to the amount of glucose in the blood sample. Embedded electrodes on the strip detect the hydrogen peroxide produced and create an electrical signal. This signal is read by the glucose meter which displays the blood glucose concentration using a calculation based on the meter's pre-programmed calibration settings. The entire reaction and measurement takes only a few seconds.

Precision and Accuracy

Modern blood glucose test strips are highly precise and accurate when used correctly. Most strips have a calibration code that is read by the meter to ensure accurate results. Strips are quality controlled during manufacturing to tight specifications. When stored properly, expiration dated test strips maintain their accuracy for reporting blood glucose levels. Some studies have found test strips to be within 15% of a laboratory reference method 95-99% of the time when properly conducted. However, factors like incorrect technique, contaminated samples, hematocrit levels, temperature variations, and meter defects can impact accuracy.

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