In an effort to preserve their diabetic test strips and extend their shelf life, many people are treating them like they would food by storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. They’re ruining their test strips and destroying the accuracy without even knowing it. Storing them in such a way affects the accuracy of readings and can lead to deadly consequences.

A vial of test strips should remain unopened until they’re ready to be used and in their original container. They must be stored in a cool, dry place, but never in the refrigerator or freezer, and out of direct sunlight. The ideal temperature conditions are between 68°F to 86°F, with the optimal temperature being 77°F. They should also be stored at humidity levels below 70 percent.

The vials in which test strips are packaged are designed to protect them from moisture, light and temperature variances that are detrimental to them. They should never be taken out of the vial for travel or to reduce bulkiness of the supplies diabetics need to carry with them. Removing them from their protective vial, even for 30 to 45 minutes, can render them inaccurate and result in a false glucose reading.

Each box of test strips has an expiration date printed on the label. It’s not recommended to try to stock up on test strips as an individual may not be able to use them up before they expire. Test strips that are past the expiration date or that have been stored incorrectly won’t provide an accurate reading. That can lead to an individual injecting too much or too little insulin.

There’s currently no better way to store test strips or any way to extend their shelf life. The best solution is not to purchase more than you’ll use within the expiration date printed on the label and to store them according to traditional methods as previously noted.

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