If you’ve ended up with unused diabetes test strips, whether because of an overstocked prescription, a change in medication, or simply buying more than you need, you may be wondering how to store them properly until you’re ready to sell. Keeping them in good condition is important, not just for getting the best price when you sell them, but also to ensure that the test strips remain effective and safe to use.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the best practices for storing unused diabetes test strips. Follow these simple tips to preserve their quality, so you can confidently sell them when the time comes.
1. Keep Them in the Original Packaging
The first and most important tip is to leave your test strips in their original, unopened packaging. The manufacturer-designed packaging is designed to protect the test strips from contamination, moisture, and light exposure. Once opened, the strips are more vulnerable to environmental factors that can affect their performance, so it’s crucial to keep them sealed until you’re ready to sell.
Why It’s Important: The original packaging ensures that the strips are kept sterile and protected from elements like dust, moisture, or excessive air exposure, all of which can damage the strips and make them less reliable for future use or resale.
2. Store in a Cool, Dry Place
Test strips are sensitive to temperature and humidity. To prevent degradation of the strips, store them in a cool, dry place. Avoid storing them in places that experience extreme temperatures, such as the kitchen or bathroom, where heat and moisture levels can fluctuate. Direct sunlight can also cause the strips to degrade over time, so be sure to keep them in a shaded area.
Ideal Storage Conditions:
- Temperature: Store your test strips at room temperature, typically between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
- Humidity: Keep them in a dry environment with low humidity to avoid moisture buildup, which can compromise the strips’ quality.
Why It’s Important: Storing test strips in a stable, controlled environment helps preserve their accuracy and shelf life. Extreme heat or cold can cause the strips to malfunction, leading to inaccurate readings when they’re eventually used.
3. Avoid Storing Near Strong Chemicals or Odors
Test strips should be stored away from strong chemicals, perfumes, or any substances that produce strong odors. Exposure to certain chemicals or strong smells can potentially affect the test strips’ sensitivity and the reliability of the readings.
Why It’s Important: Strong chemicals or odors can contaminate the strips, especially if they permeate the packaging. This could reduce their effectiveness and make them unsuitable for resale or use.
4. Keep Them Away from Pets and Children
It might seem obvious, but it’s essential to store your test strips in a place that’s out of reach of pets or children. Pets may chew on the boxes, and children may open them, both of which could result in contamination or damage to the test strips.
Why It’s Important: Ensuring that your test strips are safe from curious hands or paws helps prevent accidental damage or contamination that could make the strips unusable.
5. Check the Expiration Date Regularly
Diabetes test strips have an expiration date, and using them after that date can result in inaccurate readings. To ensure that you don’t accidentally sell expired test strips, periodically check the expiration date on the packaging. This will also help you identify when it’s time to sell your unused strips before they expire.
Why It’s Important: Expired test strips are less reliable and may be rejected by buyers, so it’s important to monitor the expiration date to ensure your strips remain within the acceptable time frame for resale.
6. Consider Using a Storage Box or Organizer
If you have multiple boxes of test strips, it may be helpful to store them in a dedicated storage box or organizer. This keeps them together in one place, making it easier to check expiration dates and ensure that the boxes remain undamaged.
Why It’s Important: Keeping all your test strips together helps you stay organized and prevents the risk of losing track of their condition or expiration dates.
7. Keep Track of Your Test Strips
If you have multiple boxes of test strips or frequently receive new shipments, keeping a simple log or note of what you have on hand can be helpful. This will ensure you know exactly what you can sell and when it’s time to sell.
Why It’s Important: By tracking your test strips, you can avoid selling expired strips or strips you may still need. It also helps you stay on top of which boxes are ready to sell.
8. Monitor the Packaging for Damage
Before selling your test strips, inspect the packaging to ensure it hasn’t been damaged. If the box is dented, torn, or otherwise compromised, the strips may no longer be suitable for sale. If the packaging has been opened, the strips should not be sold. Only unopened, intact boxes should be sold to ensure they are in optimal condition.
Why It’s Important: Damaged packaging can compromise the sterility and effectiveness of the test strips, making them less valuable or unfit for resale.
Storing your unused diabetes test strips properly ensures that they remain in the best possible condition, so you can sell them when the time is right. By keeping them in their original packaging, storing them in a cool, dry place, and monitoring their expiration date, you can preserve their quality and maximize their value when you’re ready to sell.
At Sell Your Test Strips, we make it easy for you to sell your unused test strips and turn them into cash. Follow these simple storage tips to make sure your test strips are ready for resale and get the best price when you decide it’s time to sell.