Since all have been so honest about changing the lancet...

[gsmom]

I was just curious to see if everyone calibrates EVERY time you start a new bottle of strips????

[Momof4gr8kids]

No, we calibrate about once a month :o

[BrendaK]

If the code on the bottle is different, we have to change the code on the glucometer. Otherwise the readings won't be accurate (for the Flash).

But, I think you're asking if we do the control solution test every bottle. Not a chance.... probably twice a year.

[Amy C.]

It has never been explained to me why you are supposed to calibrate. I can't remember the last time I did this -- maybe a couple of years ago. It seems like a waste of money to me.

[Lindy]

ok - someone please explain what that means - calibrate what, how and when with test strips?? this is all news to me! we change the number to match up with the strips but didn't know we were suuposed to be doing something else! :confused:

[liasmommy2000]

Er, uh, no.... We've only done this 3-4 times ever when Lia was high and we didn't know why. Every time the meter was working correctly so she was just high lol.

We don't code either as our meter doesn't require it. Hence, why we use it. We have used a few that do, but find that aspect a pitb so rarely use them.

ETA-I'm taking calibrating to mean using the control solution. Is that right?

[kel4han]

ah man.....I knew someone would ask that....NOPE! We dont!

[thebestnest5]

We definitely don't run a control solution test with each new bottle of strips.

We do control solution tests if...

1. meter is dropped

2. we get a result that we don't trust

3. randomly...just to "check up" on the accuracy of the meter/strips

[Kaylee's Mommy]

we don't use the control solution either unless we suspect something.. just a waste of strips if nothing is wrong:)

[Stacey Nagel]

I think the last time we used control solution to check the code on the meter was...............:eek:

[Ali]

Same as everyonone else. Maybe once every two years or so do I use a control solution test. I do change the number on my meter to match the number on my strips-occasionally I forget to even do this-but the best advice I heard was to simply change out your meter evey year or two years. most of us can afford the cost or can get one free from our endo dept. Ali

[Brandon B]

Only if we suspect a problem, We always make sure the newstrips code is the same as on the meter.

[MLH]

control solution, what control solution?!;)

[LantusFiend]

I've never used the control solution. I need every last test strip;

[allisa]

control solution, what control solution?!;)

LMAO.....took the words righ outa my mouth......that teeny bottle is probably lost under the couch, behind the refrigerator or used as red dye in a craft project ;)

[newatthis]

The only thing we've used our control solution in the past year is for making fake blood on April Fool's Day. I put some on some bandages and made it look oh so real! But - honestly, I'm like most others on this thread...it's not been necessary unless we feel the reading is inaccurate. Which has only happened a few times and even that was because of sugar on the fingers!

[EmmasMom]

Pretty rare around here too! :o Maybe once every 3-4 months, or if I'm comparing one meter to another.
I do have about 10 bottles of control solution since A plus sends a new one each month. FYI:They expire 90 days after they're opened, so you should never use one for a control test if it's old, it will give you wacky results!

[Boo]

Glad to see I'm not the only one...:cwds:

[gsmom]

Just what I was thinking, Boo!

[Momof4gr8kids]

Looks like we will all have plenty of fake blood for halloween, huh? At least we do the important stuff, like check the bg.

Has anyone ever checked their meter with solution and found it miscalibrated (reading a wrong number)?

[KatelinsMom]

We have only used the control solution twice..once when someone gave us some strips that had been opened for a while and we wanted to check the accuracy of them and the other time was when we had a questionable reading. Other than that, we just make sure the number on the bottle is the same as the meter. :)

[Caynuns mom]

Our test strips come two bottles of 50 strips per box and I do a solution test and put the new code chip in the machine everytime I open a new box (even if the code number is the same).

[Mama Belle]

I've used the control solution exactly once since dx five years ago.

[Mama2H]

I think we have used it three or four times. At least I am not the only one LOL I just couldn't stand to waste the precious test strips :cwds:

[A&Ds Mommy]

Guess we are the oddballs and we do do the control every time we open a new container of strips. I think the only reason we do is because about a month after his dx when we did the control the results weren't falling in the range they were supposed to for the strips. So I guess we are just worried it might happen again.

[Erin Grace's Mom]

We are new at this, but...
Every Wednesday, I calibrate using the solution at my daughter's school (for their peace of mind and mine). I have my son (non-D) help me calibrate using the control solution. We do this occasionally at home too - with my son always helping. I like including my son whenever possible in our new routine. At such a young age, I think it helps him feel in control and part of our new routine.

[Noel]

RARELY...either of my d's....lucky I can get them testing....changing the lancet??? CONTROL SOLUTION???? That would likely send them over the edge!

I have to admit that I have on occasion...done it behond both DH and DS back!:D

[Illinifan]

We used the control solution for the first couple of boxes of new strips and then decided it wasn't worth it.

However, Zach did use his control solutions for a science fair project. He called it "Got Blood Sugar?". We had 3 or 4 different meters at the time and he borrowed a couple of others from other D kids at his school. He compared the readings from the meters using both the high and low solutions. He also ran multiple tests on the same meter to see how precise the readings were. He got a Superior. That was two years ago and we haven't gotten any new control solutions since.

[LJS118]

no way....i couldn't even find the test solution if i tried

we do make sure the #on the test strips match the meter though

lori:eek: