How to Check the Accuracy of a Glucometer

Your glucometer is one of the most important parts of your diabetes care, and you need to be sure it is accurate. Most glucometers include a bottle of control solution used to test the meter. If your meter does not include control solution, purchase a bottle from a pharmacy. Verify the accuracy of your meter once a month or any time the glucose test result does not seem to fit with how you feel.

Things You'll Need

• Soap and water
• Clean towel
• Glucometer
• Test strips
• Control solution

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water then dry them with a clean towel. This reduces the risk that you may contaminate the test strip with something from your fingers.

• 2

  Insert a test strip into the glucometer with the sample collection end facing up and away from the meter.

• 3

  Place one drop of control solution on the test strip's sample collection area.

• 4

  Check the result displayed on the meter against the ranges provided on the control solution bottle. If the result is within the normal range, your meter is working properly. If the result is not within the normal range, replace it.