And, for bonus points, how are they made?
These seem like an awfully important test piece. I’m pretty sure they’re just checking for glucose with some enzyme or something. But who knows, maybe its something simple or everyday? Are all brands using the same materials?
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blood interacts with the chemicals on the test strip, the reaction creates a measurable electrical charge which changes depending on the glucose level in the blood. The meter reads the level of that electrical charge and converts it to a blood glucose reading in understandable numbers.
I believe most strips use glucose oxidase, an enzyme that produces gluconic acid from the glucose in the blood. But I haven’t researched new test strip tech in years.
Looking at the bottle my test strips are in, they contain: flavin adenine dinucleotide dependent dehydrogenase (from Aspergillus sp.); potassium ferricyanide; and other ingredients.
I’m just imagining the nutrition facts section for that bottle of test strips
I don’t think the strips themselves do anything but hold your blood for the actual tester you put them in.
I’m pretty sure the test strips strips probably do most of the testing, and the meter just reads the result.
Considering they have an expiration date I don’t believe they’re inert.
All the test strips I’ve ever used hold the blood at the opposite end to the machine. The blood is intentionally kept away and on something that can easily be disposed of.
As far as I can tell, the bulk of the testing strip is a conductor to take a signal from the end with the blood to the tester, which makes it seem like there’s some sort of reaction on the blood end.
Based on this and one other reply, I wonder if what brand of strip makes a difference. My mom’s went in blood first and someone here said they have an expiration date but the ones we have do not.
