Expired Strips

I thought I got lucky when I managed to get 400 strips on eBay for just over $120. They arrived today and 100 of them expire end of this month and the other 300 at the end of March.

I am wondering what happens after expiry. Are they suddenly no good or are the like other use by items you buy in stores that can be used for a while after expiry? I can’t afford to throw away 400 strips. Was so upset when I saw the expiry dates.

I use about 25 a week so won’t manage to use 400 in next five weeks.

 

You could use them and test yourself periodically to see if you get a BG within the allowed range on the strip vial - assuming you aren't diabetic of course.

 

Lol now there would be a surprise if I was but you never know!

 

Would I expect to see inaccuracy then?

And oops I meant to post this in the general forum not this one. Perhaps @Jill & Alex (GA) would move it if she happens to be online.

 

You could call the company that makes whichever meter the strips will be used in and ask them to send you control solution. It's usually free and is a glucose solution you use to check your meter's readings. I think that if you get numbers within the range on the strip vials when doing a control solution test you should be able to use the strips and get similar accuracy as you get with fresher ones. (Just don't mention the meter is for your cat.)

 

Brilliant. I’ll try that. Thanks. Yes I got odd looks from the pharmacy when I was buying insulin and a new meter. She wanted to show me how to test myself and was surprised I’d spend all that money and effort for a cat. Then when I asked another pharmacist for a sharps container they asked if I was a patient and I said “not exactly but my cat is”!

 

The expired strips should be fine for a year or so as long as they are not/have been stored in a hot place. I have use strips that have an expiration date of over a year without problems. The things that degrade strips are heat and moisture. Each vial contains a desiccant. to keep moisture out of the strips and that is why the manufacturer says discard a vail of strips if it had been opened a set amount of time. One vial of strips that I looked like says 3 months. The desiccant tend to be either a white lining in the striops vial or granules in an extra strip vial cap.

 

That’s great. So if unopened and in its box it should be ok then? Thanks. I need to pay more attention when ordering from eBay.