Choosing the Correct Test Strip for a Blood Glucose Meter

FDA is aware of cases where patients have used LifeScan OneTouch Ultra test strips with their Abbott Precision Xtra blood glucose meters.

As a result, the meters recorded lower-than-expected blood glucose levels, which can have serious clinical consequences. This problem is not limited to just these two products. Using the wrong strip in any brand of blood glucose meter could result in erroneous readings, or no readings at all.

Instruct diabetic patients who use blood glucose meters to use only the strips recommended for that particular meter. The owner's manual for each meter specifies which strips are suitable. As an additional check, the instructions with the test strips identify the meters that are compatible with those strips.

FDA Patient Safety News: May 2008

For more information, please see our website:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/psn/transcript.cfm?show=75#9

Category:

Education

Tags:

• diabetes
• glucose
• meter
• blood
• sugar
• strip
• error
• FDA