Glucose Control Solution:

How to Use it to Check Your Meter & Strips

Checking your blood glucose monitoring system to make sure it is working
properly can be done easily at home with glucose control solution. Control
solution can also be handy to practice using your meter without needing
to do a finger stick.

Testing using control solution is a similar process to testing a blood

sample. However, the properties of the fluids are different, and the test
results are used for separate purposes. Control solution for a glucometer
has a known amount of glucose set by the manufacturer, whereas the
concentration of glucose within human blood can fluctuate, even when
measuring the same drop of blood. Therefore, a control solution test can
be used to check if your meter and test strips are reading blood sugar
levels properly by providing the expected result.

Read on for information on how to get started using control

solution:

What is control solution for a glucose meter?.................................3

How often is a glucose control solution test recommended?......5

How to use control solution...............................................................7

Where to buy control solution for a glucose meter.................... 10

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What is control solution
for a glucose meter?
Glucose control solution is a liquid made up of
water, glucose, buffers, and microbicides. These
ingredients are vital to creating a solution with
the following properties:

• Has a concentration of glucose

that can be used to test the
functionality of your meter and
test strips.

• Has a pH level that is close

to the physiological value of
human blood.

• Prevents the growth of micro

bacteria that would otherwise
alter the glucose concentration.

Your blood glucose monitoring system can

detect the amount of glucose present in control
solution in a similar way to how it detects the amount
of glucose present in blood. A glucose control solution reading on
your meter appears as a numerical value. This value should fall within
the target range printed on the test strip vial, which is based on the
concentration of glucose in the control solution.

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Manufacturers often have a few options of control solution that are
compatible with each brand of test strips. The different options, or
“levels” — Level 1, Level 2, or Level 4 for example — have glucose ranges
that are different from one another, typically corresponding with low,
normal, or high glucose concentrations. Your test strip vial should show
the target range for each different level of control solution. Be sure to
identify the correct range that corresponds to the type of control solution
you have.

Glucose control solution can be used to complete a quality check on

your blood glucose monitoring system. It can help you determine if your
meter and test strips are performing properly.

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How often is a glucose
control solution test recommended?
Control solution tests may need to be performed numerous times
throughout the lifetime of a meter for a variety of reasons.

A control solution test is recommended when:

• You suspect that your meter
or test strips are not working
properly.
• You suspect your test results
are unexpectedly too high
or low, or do not match how
you’re feeling.
• Your test strip vial is damaged
or was not capped properly.
• Your meter or test strips have
been exposed to extreme
environmental conditions,
like humidity, temperature, or
sunlight.

• You have dropped or damaged • You are advised by a healthcare

your meter or exposed your professional to do so.
meter to liquids.

Regardless of the reason for a glucose control solution test, the purpose
is always the same: to determine whether your meter and test strips are
performing as expected by the manufacturer. However, this does not
indicate how accurate your glucose meter is.

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How to check the accuracy of a glucose meter

While it is tempting to use the results of a control solution test to find out
if your meter is reading high or low and by how much, the properties
that make blood and control solution different prevent this from being
a reliable way to check the accuracy of a glucose meter. Instead, it gives
you an indication as to whether your meter and test strips are working
properly. Once a control solution test confirms that your monitoring
system is functioning correctly, other causes for suspicious readings can
be considered.

The accuracy of blood glucose meter readings can be affected by many

factors unrelated to the meter’s functionality, such as environmental
conditions, altitude, testing practices, and damaged or expired test
strips. Something as simple as testing with unwashed hands or from
an insufficient blood drop can throw off your entire test. Therefore,
identifying and controlling any interfering factors can be a simple step to
improving the accuracy of your results.

If you are still wondering how to check the accuracy of a glucose meter,
the Diabetes Technology Society completed a study that evaluated the
accuracy performance of popular meters on the market. It is important
to remember that this study evaluated meters using a controlled
method and that comparing test results from two different meters is not
recommended due to the variances in meter technology from one brand
to another. Also, factors like the ones mentioned above can influence
accuracy to yield different results from one test to the next.

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How to use control solution

How to perform a control solution test

Glucose control solution tests are performed the same way as blood
glucose tests. These tests are not a method for calibrating your meter,
but rather a useful tool to check the performance of your meter and
test strips. You can also use control solution to practice testing with your
blood glucose monitoring system before testing a blood sample.

Here are the steps to guide you through the process:

• Step 1: Insert a new test strip into your meter and

check that the meter is ready to
perform a test.

• Step 2: Shake the control

solution bottle vigorously.

• Step 3: Discard the first drop and

wipe off the bottle tip so that it is
clean.

• Step 4: Dispense a second drop

onto a hard, clean surface, then
bring the test strip to the drop.
Hold the test strip up to the sample
until enough control solution has
been applied to the test strip.

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• Step 5: Check the meter as it
calculates and displays the test
result. Compare the test result
to the appropriate control
solution range printed on the
test strip vial.
• Step 6: Dispose of any used
test strips and store the control
solution bottle with your
testing supplies.
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How will I know if the control solution test passed?

Once you have the result from the glucose control solution test, the
next step is to compare the number shown on your meter to the
range specified by the manufacturer, printed on the test strip vial. The
number shown on the meter should fall within the range. It is important
to remember that results from control solution tests are unrelated to
blood glucose levels and do not reflect your body’s blood glucose
concentration.

A range for control solution results — rather than a single number — is

provided because no two tests will be exactly the same. Manufacturers
anticipate the possible variations from test to test and therefore provide
an expected range.

If you find that a control solution result does not fall within the range
printed on the test strip vial, you should contact the manufacturer of your
meter to determine if additional troubleshooting or replacement supplies
are needed.

How long does control solution last?

Most control solution for glucose meters lasts 90 days from the date
that the bottle is first opened. However, some manufacturers make their
control solution to last longer. It is always best to use control solution
before the expiration date on the box, and to discard the bottle after it
has been opened for the time period specified by the manufacturer.

After each use, be sure to re-cap the control solution bottle, forming a
tight seal. Temperature and humidity can affect the control solution and
potentially alter the result of a control solution test. Therefore, check the
storage conditions on the bottle to determine the best place to store it.

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Where to buy control
solution for a glucose meter
Typically, control solution for a glucometer is available from the
manufacturer of your meter and test strips, and most private insurance
companies or Medicare will cover the cost.

Check the manufacturer’s website for details on where to purchase

control solution. You can also check with your local pharmacy to see if
they have available stock of the control solution that is compatible with
your glucose meter. If none is in stock, you can request it to be ordered
through your pharmacy.

Can any kind of glucose control solution be used?

Control solution for glucose meters is made specific to each brand

and type of test strip; there is no universal or generic brand. If you are
unsure which control solution is designated to work with your glucose
monitoring system, check the instructions that came with your meter or
test strips or look on the manufacturer’s website.

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Checking your blood glucose monitoring system using control solution
is important anytime you or your doctor believes there could be damage
to your meter or test strips, or concerns about the performance of your
system. While a control solution test cannot provide insights into the
accuracy of your meter, it is a helpful method to determine if your system
is working properly. This test can be done in a few simple steps, at home.
So, the next time you stock up on diabetes testing supplies, or notice that
your control solution is expired, consider adding a box of control solution
to your next order.

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