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Expiry Dates

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Aoife

Aoife

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I have just found 3 boxes of tests strips (clearing out under my bed!) that expire at the end of May.

Does anyone know whether they can be used past then? I know they will still be ok, things don't magically go off one day after the expiry date but will my meter accept them? They are Accu-Chek Aviva strips used in an Aviva nano.

Would be a shame for them to be wasted as I don't really have much of a contingency supply.
 
If it was me, and this is just my opinion, I would continue to use them as normal. Not sure how long test strips last for, but sometimes the use by date isn't that far away on the ones I get.
 
No they won't work, they will bring up an error message after the expiry date. Fascinates me how a little bit of plastic knows when it's own expiry date is! We had that happen.

Is it worth seeing if anyone on here can use some of them? Some of the pregnant ladies need millions a day!!! You may be able to get rid of one or two pots so they won't be totally wasted.
 
You could change the date on your meter so it thinks they are still in date. I have done that with ketone strips.
 
rachelha said:
You could change the date on your meter so it thinks they are still in date. I have done that with ketone strips.
Click to expand...

Ooooo! That's a smart idea, hadn't thought of that! Thanks. Will remember that in future. Have thrown out of date ones out before now as they wouldn't work. Will know for future reference! Thanks.
 
thanks!

I was wondering if the meter knew they were out of date since you don't have to code chip each pot.

I think I'll be able to get through most of them, it may be a few that get wasted but I didn't realise we were in a five week month and I use about 50/week give or take.
 
Just to update, I kept about 10 strips to one side just to see and 3 days past their use by date and they still work with no problem, my meter seems oblivious!
Anyway, I thought it may be useful for people to know.
 
Aoife said:
Just to update, I kept about 10 strips to one side just to see and 3 days past their use by date and they still work with no problem, my meter seems oblivious!
Anyway, I thought it may be useful for people to know.
Click to expand...

Interesting! 🙂
 
Tina63 said:
No they won't work, they will bring up an error message after the expiry date. Fascinates me how a little bit of plastic knows when it's own expiry date is! We had that happen.

Is it worth seeing if anyone on here can use some of them? Some of the pregnant ladies need millions a day!!! You may be able to get rid of one or two pots so they won't be totally wasted.
Click to expand...

Not all meters are created equally, mine are oblivious of the test strip date.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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