Glucose Control Solution: Accuracy, When and How to Use

Healthful Vitality | 08/28/2021 | By NP Team | Glucose Control Solution: Accuracy, When and How to Use

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is one of the highly recommended ways of managing diabetes. It not only provides valuable information about blood glucose levels but also helps improve treatment. Unfortunately, however, over-the-counter SMBG devices are not very accurate.

In fact, one of the studies demonstrated that only one-third of all available blood glucose monitoring devices are accurate most of the time. And about one-fourth are inaccurate most of the time.

Glucose control solution is a solution of known glucose concentration, and it can help measure the accuracy of the device. It allows people to check the accuracy of devices at home.

What is the accuracy of commonly used blood glucose monitoring devices?

There is nothing like a 100% accurate blood glucose monitoring device. US FDA can give marketing authorization if any device provides results within the range of +/-20%, all of the time. Devices providing results within the range of +/-10% most of the time are generally regarded as reasonably accurate.

In practice, it means that most people should understand that their glucometer commonly provides a bit inaccurate result.

However, one should understand that this inaccuracy occurs due to numerous reasons. It does not essentially mean that manufacturers are producing poor-quality products.

There are numerous known reasons that may influence the accuracy of blood glucose monitors like hemoglobin level, bilirubin in the blood, high cholesterol. In addition, many drugs may also interfere with the working of blood glucose monitors, like acetaminophen, ascorbic acid, ibuprofen, salicylic acid, and many more.

When to use glucose control solution?

Since the glucose concentration of the control solution is well-known, one can easily use it to assess the accuracy of the glucometer at home.

Consider using glucose control solution if:

• Sudden and frequent glitches in readings of glucometer – if blood glucometer frequently provides unexpected results.
• If a user fears that the glucometer is damaged due to exposure to liquids or due to dropping.
• Test strips were not stored in the proper conditions.

It is vital to understand that glucose control solution may help know if the results provided by the glucometer are correct or not. However, it cannot help understand if inaccuracies are due to problems with strips or defects in the device.

It means that for measuring the device’s accuracy, one should always use new strips or strips stored in recommended conditions.

How to use glucose control solution?

For most people, it should not pose any challenge as the process is pretty straightforward. Nonetheless, before using a glucose control solution, always ensure that it is not expired. Do not use it if the bottle was opened more than 90 days ago or not stored properly (like in direct sunlight).

Before starting the test, prepare a glucometer by inserting the strip. Then shake the glucose control solution bottle well. It is generally a good idea to discard the first drop. Instead, dispense the next drop on the clean and hard surface and then brink that drop in contact with the test strip (quite like bringing it in contact with a drop of blood). Glucometer would display the test results. The only thing to understand is that there is nothing like a 100% correct Glucometer. Thus, if tests are within +/-5%, then the glucometer is highly accurate.