Test strip temperatures and accuracy question

[Pumbaa]

A couple of days ago, I ordered 250 test strips from American Diabetes Wholesale, which is based in Florida.

Much of our country is under a heatwave right now, and Arizona is well up in the triple digits. I worry about shipping during the summer, and so, on my order, in the comments/questions field, I typed the following:

Shipping to Arizona with 110F temps. Can you wrap the blood glucose test strips in some way so that they won't be vulnerable to the heat during shipping?

Package, shipped via FedEx, was due for delivery today. I had to leave the house between 1 pm and 2:30 pm, so I left a thermal bag outside, with a bag of ice in it, and a note to FedEx asking them to put the box in the thermal bag to keep it cool until I got home.

When I got home at 2:30 pm, the box was in the thermal bag, but part of the bag was in the sun, and FedEx had not sealed the thermal bag. I took the box inside immediately, opened it, and saw that American Diabetes Wholesale had simply thrown the five test strips boxes in the packing box, without wrapping them together in bubble wrap or anything that would have insulated them from the heat. I got out my kitchen digital thermometer, and stuck the probe in the top of two of the boxes, and they registered 93F when the test strip box states to keep these between 34-86F.

So my question is, are these test strips any good anymore since they went above the 86F recommended temperature? I forgot to order control solution (moron moment once again), so the only way I have to test them is to do a side-by-side comparison on Pumbaa.

I will be contacting ADW to express my disappointment that they ignored my comment about packaging these strips to survive the heat.

Suze

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I would not be concerned. Hocks said in the past that such high temperatures will not really effect the strips because of the temperature and time at temperature.

 

[Dale 'n' Chip]

So my question is, are these test strips any good anymore since they went above the 86F recommended temperature?

Yes they should be OK.

86F is for long term storage, as in months in a warehouse. But how many warehouses do you think are lower than that this time of year?

If you look at the insert with the relion packaged (arkray) test strips under:

Other Precautions: Use the meter between 50-104 F

So at that point the test strip will be 87-103F when the meter is used at those temperatures. All my test strips are being used at those temperatures presently, and the in-use bottle stored over 86F during half the summer. The thermostat is set for 85F and it's 88 now and often 90 in here. But it's a dry indoor desert heat since the air conditioning removes the humidity. :twisted:

Likely much worse for the test strips is freezing or exposure to high humidity, not usually big problems in AZ. ;-)

The bottom line is if you have any doubt call 1.800.992.3612 and get your free control solution from relion arkray. You can do a control test on one strip from each box and put your mind at ease.

 

[Pumbaa]

Thank you, Larry and Dale!

I didn't need anything else messing up Pumbaa's numbers. *LOL*

Dale, what...you think I am going to open the package insert and read all of that fine print? Hah! Thank you for doing it for me. (Something is wrong here...a guy was reading the directions for the gal? nailbite_smile

Suze

 

[Pumbaa]

The bottom line is if you have any doubt call 1.800.992.3612 and get your free control solution from relion arkray. You can do a control test on one strip from each box and put your mind at ease.

This is weird. I went to the link and called that number, and they only manufacture the Relion Ultima, not the Relion Confirm or Micro. Those are by a different company, 1-800-631-0076.

Just ordered control solution for free. Very nice people. The solution expires in 90 days, so the woman said just call them when I need more.

Suze