Test strips are an essential element in the life of diabetics to monitor and manage their disease. Development of the test strip is the result of chemist Helen Murray Free. It paved the way for the home testing kits that today’s diabetics use. She left a legacy that’s saved countless lives.

Before the invention of test strips to measure blood glucose levels, testing for diabetes meant dropping a reagent tablet in a test tube containing a urine sample mixed with water. The level of sugar in the urine was determined by the color it turned – from dark blue to orange. The problem was that the test detected any sugar, not just glucose.

Free earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Western Reserve University and had research experience at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic. She was an employee, along with her future husband, Alfred, at Miles Laboratory. He hired her in 1947 as a quality control chemist for a research team.

The team was successful in making the Clinistix®, the first dip and read test, more sensitive, but they wanted to create a strip that was more convenient and didn’t use a tablet. The solution was found in 1956, but was a labor-intensive process in which the paper filters were cut by hand, dipped into a reagent solution, then dried in ovens.

Free’s research resulted in a major breakthrough that led to a variety of dip-and-read tests for other substances. She wanted a test that provided a real-time reading of glucose levels that urine-based tests didn’t provide. She was successful and Miles Laboratory introduced test strips for blood glucose in 1964 and the meter to read it in 1969 that was invented by Anton Clemens.

The meter was big and bulky, the test strips expensive, and both were only available in doctor’s offices that could afford them and in laboratories. Through the work of Free and future innovation, people with diabetes now have pocket sized glucose meters and convenient test strips for use at home. The first home metering option was introduced about 1981.

Helen Murray Free received many awards and honors for her work. She was born on Feb. 20, 1923 in Pittsburgh, PA and died at the age of 98 on May 1, 2021 in Elkhart, IN.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Many people are trading in their unused glucose test strips for cash and you can, too. Before you start inventorying what you have to sell, there are some things you need to know. Buyers of test strips are very particular about what they accept and for very good reason. They sell the test strips to individuals that need them and the strips must conform to the same standards as you’d purchase them in the store.

The answer is no – you can’t sell opened boxes of test strips. The boxes must be unopened and in good condition. Test strips also have an expiration date and companies that buy test strips typically want a minimum of an 8-month window until the strip’s expiration date.

They should also have been stored under appropriate conditions and not exposed to high heat or dampness. Test strips paid for through government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid can’t be resold.

Test strips that don’t meet those requirements can’t be counted upon to provide an accurate reading that’s essential for individuals to manage their disease. Even though they appear simple, test strips are high tech devices and the manufacturing process is complicated. Test strips utilize stabilizing chemicals and enzymes to read glucose levels.

Those enzymes and stabilizing chemicals have a specific shelf life. Each manufacturer has its own proprietary combination of chemicals, each of which remains stable and effective over varying lengths of time.

Companies that purchase test strips resell them to those with diabetes that can’t afford expensive co-pays, are underinsured or are uninsured. Selling your test strips for extra cash is easy.

You can obtain a quote online and the companies will even pay the postage to send the test strips to them. If the strips are accepted, they offer multiple payment methods. If the test strips are rejected, the company will pay the postage to return them to you. It’s a win-win situation for you as the seller and those with diabetes.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

The little plastic test strips for testing glucose levels appear simple, but are a marvel of modern technology, allowing individuals to effectively manage their diabetes at home. All manufacturers of test strips use essentially the same process and the strips work in the same way. However, each manufacturer incorporates small, proprietary differences that ensure it’s only compatible with the company’s brand of meter.

The laminated test strips are comprised of multiple ultra-thin layers and essentially work by using a blood sample to create an electrochemical reaction. A chemical reaction takes place and is converted into an electrical impulse that’s sent to the meter where it’s read.

Test strips begin with a base of polyester, overlaid with a carbon layer to facilitate conductivity. A micro-thin gold or silver-based layer is added and cut into a printed circuit designed to make an electrical circuit when blood is introduced.

A layer of enzymes and stabilizing chemicals are applied to the end of the test strip that accepts the blood sample. When blood is introduced to the strip, a chemical reaction takes place and converted into an electrical impulse that is then read by the glucose meter and presented as a number on the meter’s readout.

The enzymes and stabilizing chemicals have a specific lifespan. High humidity and extremes in temperature degrade the enzyme and chemicals used, thereby rendering an inaccurate reading and placing users’ health at risk.

Test strips that have exceeded their expiration date can exhibit errors by giving readings that are over or under the actual glucose level. Individuals may use too much or too little insulin to compensate. Manufacturers use different enzymes and chemicals unique to their particular brand. Some test strips may provide better accuracy but have a longer shelf life, while other brands may be slightly less accurate but have a longer expiration date.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Monitoring blood glucose levels is an essential part of living with diabetes. It becomes progressively easier over time for adults to prick their fingers to obtain a sample of blood. Parents must perform the testing for very small children. However, a day will come when parents will have to teach their child how to use test strips and glucose meters on their own.

How to Check

Even though they may have seen their parents perform the testing procedure many times, doing it on their own is an entirely different matter. Parents will need to walk a child through the process and it may take many repetitions before they feel confident and do it correctly. That’s to be expected and parents shouldn’t get frustrated with them.

Why to Check

Parents need to have an honest conversation with the child. Children need to know that testing is the way they can help keep themselves safe. Explain what normal readings are, along with what constitutes a high or low reading and what to do. The readings tell them whether they need to eat something, take insulin and if so, how much. If the child is involved in sports and other activities, they need to know that testing allows them to monitor their glucose levels so they can participate.

When to Check

Teach the child that they’ll need to check before breakfast, lunch and dinner and before bed. Teens will need to know they should never get behind the wheel of a car unless they’ve tested their glucose levels first. It’s important for them to know that sometimes they’ll need to check more often – before, during and after exercise. Sometimes glucose levels can drop during the night and there may be times when they need to wake up and check, especially if their glucose levels are low at bedtime.

Additional Checking

When people are ill, it can affect their glucose levels and some medications also affect glucose levels. Be sure the child knows that blood glucose levels can fluctuate if they’re sick and it’s a good idea to test more often if they’re ill. Parents shouldn’t panic about teaching a child to test their own blood – they’ll always be there to provide advice and assistance.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Test strips are an essential tool for checking blood glucose levels to manage diabetes. The test strips are an ongoing need that’s also expensive. The cost varies widely, depending upon the brand, number of strips used and how often an individual has to test. Further complicating the equation is that test strips aren’t interchangeable between different brands of meters.

There are store brands, known as generic strips, that cost as little as $20 per 100 (20 cents per strip), while name brands can cost up to $188 per 100 ($1.88 per strip). That’s a low of 80 cents per day if a person tests 4 times per day to a high of $7.52. All test strips have to meet minimum accuracy requirements.

The test strip industry is a study in contradictions. Test strip manufacturers insist the cost is a direct result of research and materials to create the tiny strips. Many people say that the cost of the strips increases if their insurance is paying for them. The plastic test strips have a thin gold coating and one end has a coating of enzymes. When blood enters the test strip, it reacts to the enzyme and creates an electrical impulse that’s read by the glucose meter.

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are held up as the gold standard of glucose monitors and are only available by prescription. Some insurance companies pay a portion of the cost, some don’t, and some insurers limit it for use to people with Type 1 diabetes. It’s typically too expensive for most people, even with insurance, for the cost of the sensors each month that can range from $160 to $500 per month.

It’s no wonder that diabetics are turning to alternative sources to obtain the test strips they need. Resellers of diabetic test strips buy test them from people that don’t need them or have too many, and resell them at a discount to individuals that that are uninsured or underinsured. It’s one way for people with the disease to obtain the test strips needed to help them stay alive.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Individuals across the nation are making money selling their unused test strips. The amount to be made will depend on factors that include the amount a company is paying for them and the number of strips an individual has to sell. Selling test strips won’t place people in a higher tax bracket, but the cash can pay for a variety of extras and there’s very little effort required to sell them.

Individuals can sell their own test strips if they have an excess, those of friends, or the strips of deceased family members that no longer need them. Companies that purchase test strips will pay for postage and funds from the financial transactions can be paid for in multiple ways ranging for digital payments to checks.

There are requirements of which individuals should be aware before attempting to sell their test strips. The strips should have a minimum expiration date of at least 8 months in the future and be in the original, unopened box. Some test strips aren’t eligible for resale. Any strips that were paid for through government-funded insurance such as Medicare and Medicaid can’t be resold.

Companies that buy test strips resell them at a discount to those that are in need. Many individuals have healthcare plans that don’t cover the cost of as many as they require. Other plans may pay for far more than the individual needs, leading to an excess of strips that simply expire before they’re used. It’s a tragic waste as the expired strips are typically thrown away to become fodder for landfills where they do no one any good.

Selling to companies that resell test strips has multiple benefits. The strips earn people cash, help others in need, and is an environmentally-friendly option. Transactions are quick, easy and efficient. It eliminates the time-consuming task of trying to sell them at online marketplaces and individuals have the satisfaction of knowing they’re actually helping others.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Millions of people have sold their diabetic test strips to earn cash while helping the underinsured and the uninsured. Depending on how often you test and how many strips your insurance company allows per month, you may discover that excess strips begin to accumulate. If you’re going to sell them, be sure to do so before they expire. Most companies that buy extra test strips want at least an 8-month window until the strip’s expiration date.

Make Money and Help Others

Test strips are an essential tool for controlling and managing diabetes, but many individuals aren’t able to afford the amount they need. Diabetic test strips can cost as little as 15 cents to manufacture, but can command prices of up to $1.50 each at stores and pharmacies. That can translate into hundreds of dollars per month.

Pharmaceutical companies use a gold coating and chemicals to manufacture test strips. The medical devices use a blood sample to essentially transform the glucose into an electrical current that can be read on a home monitor. The chemicals have a specific life span before they begin to deteriorate, hence their expiration date.

Sell Before Expiration

Test strips that have exceeded their expiration date have been deemed to register inaccurate readings. Without precise readings, people could inject too much or insufficient insulin to manage blood sugar levels, thereby endangering their lives. That’s why it’s critical that you sell your test strips before they expire. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has even issued specific warnings about using expired test steps.

Selling your test strips is fast, easy and convenient – and provides individuals with the means to make some extra cash. It’s essential that boxes of test strips you’re selling have at least an 8-month experience date and are in the original, unopened package. Purchasing discounted diabetic test strips is the only option for some individuals and an extended expiration date ensures accurate readings.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

A primary concern for someone with diabetes is the recurring medical costs like test strips. Test strips are very crucial for diabetic patients to keep track of their blood sugar levels. It is expedient for them to carry out this test daily, and when you add up these costs, things can get expensive fast.

Test strips can be pretty expensive. Some of them cost up to $2 per piece.  This is why some people find it hard to dispose of their expired test strips. It can be quite frustrating to spend such an amount and then have to throw them away because they reached their expiration date.

Well, the conversation around using expired test strips is a debatable and interesting one. There are a lot of controversies as to whether or not it is okay to use expired test strips. I’m sure you might have considered using expired test strips to cut down costs.

How do test strips work?

Before deciding if you should be using an expired test strip or not, it is crucial to understand how these strips work. To you, the test strip might appear as a simple plastic. But, there is more to it than meets the eye. The test strip comprises layers that each play a significant role in giving you the test readings.

A liquid-attracting layer moves your blood into the chemistry strip (a little window on the strip). The chemistry strip comprises an enzyme that reacts with the glucose in your blood and pulls off the sugar electrons. The glucometer, the mediator on the chemistry strip, picks up the pulse and signals your reading.

Do Test Strips Really Expire?

Now that we know how test strips work, let’s get to the ultimate question. Do test strips really expire? Or is it just another ploy by drug industries to suck us dry?

The simple answer to this is yes! Test strips do expire over time, and that’s because the enzyme on the strip is living organisms, and they have a lifespan. Eventually, the enzymes will start to break down and die over time.

You should also know that different brands have different enzyme tolerance. As a result, some brands’ enzymes will break down faster or slower than others.

What are the risks associated with using expired test strips?

What’s the worst that could happen if you continue to use an expired test strip? As you can imagine, once the enzymes which are responsible for generating your reading begin to break down, the integrity of your blood sugar readings becomes compromised. And if your reading is inaccurate, you are setting yourself up for some severe health issues.

It is tempting to use expired test strips to save a few bucks, you should be cautious not to underestimate your safety concerns. Using an expired test strip isn’t worth the risk. The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) strongly warns against the use of expired test strips as they could give inaccurate results. Most experts also advise against using expired test strips.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

You won’t get rich selling your excess diabetic test strips, but you will make some extra cash and could very well save a life. Test strips are an essential part of monitoring and treating diabetes. Selling your extra test strips is extremely easy and there’s no expense to the seller since postage is covered by the purchasing company.

It’s important to know that selling your test strips is legal and allowable in all 50 states since they can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, just like aspirin and allergy remedies. The only restriction is if the test strips were purchased by Medicaid or Medicare.

The test strips must have a sufficiently long expiration date and be in the original unopened box. The strips must have been stored properly by not being exposed to moisture or high heat as they may not provide an accurate reading. That’s also why they must have an expiration date that’s far enough in the future – typically eight to 10 months. Test strips utilize chemicals and stabilizers that are read by a blood glucose monitor and those chemicals break down past their expiration date.

A company that purchases your test strips simplifies the entire process. You can go online and indicate the number of boxes you have to sell. A free mailing kit is provided if you have two or more boxes for sale The strips will be examined to ensure they meet the company’s specifications and if they do, you’ll receive your payment. It’s that simple.

The test strips are then sold at substantial discounts to people that are uninsured or underinsured. You can sell your own test strips if your insurance company provides more than you need, if you received the wrong brand, and those of loved ones that have died and no longer need them. You’ll ultimately be helping people that desperately need test strips to manage their disease.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

At-home diabetic monitoring technology has advanced significantly since the development of the first glucose test strip in 1965. Prior to that, detecting diabetes relied on a urine test performed in a lab. Even after the test strip was created, it was only for use in a doctor’s office. Today’s test strips appear simple in design, but they’re actually high-tech, miniature medical devices that contain components that have a limited shelf life.

Modern test strips contain an enzyme and stabilizing chemicals to obtain a glucose reading. When a small drop of blood is introduced, an electrochemical reaction takes place that’s read by a glucose monitor. Those chemicals and enzymes have a specific shelf life and begin to break down after the expiration date on the box.

Many test strip brands contain a minuscule amount of gold that creates the circuitry connection necessary that’s sent to the glucose monitor. Test strips are an essential diagnostic tool for people with diabetes. After the expiration date, there’s no guarantee that the strips will deliver an accurate reading. Obtaining accurate readings are essential for diabetics to manage the disease. Faulty readings are life threatening.

The manner in which test strips are stored is equally important. Exposure to damp conditions, high humidity levels and even very high temperatures will affect the efficacy of the enzymes and chemicals the devices contain. If test strips have been improperly stored, they won’t provide an accurate reading even if the strips have significant time left until they expire.

Various studies have been conducted and the efficacy of test strips in comparison to their expiration date varied widely. Some brands showed inaccurate readings almost immediately when they attained their expiration date. Individual test strips of other brands demonstrated a wide range of accurate and inaccurate readings six months after their expiration date.

The bottom line is that in general, test strip manufacturers and even physicians recommend not using diabetic test strips that are past their expiration date. There’s no guarantee that an accurate reading will be achieved and it can result in a life-threatening situation.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!