In my last post, I discussed the need to code a blood glucose meter to the vial of test strips to ensure accuracy.  My question was, why did this need to be done?  Below is my e-mail to LifeScan asking this question with their response below my request.

“… My last post was in regards to test strips and the coding procedure that needs to take place. I currently use a OneTouch UltraLink meter.  The reason I am writing is because I found a large variance between when the code is correct between the strip vial and the meter versus when it’s not correct.  Furthermore, I don’t understand the need for coding especially when a wrong code can lead to significantly different results.” [Blogging Diabetes - Tony]

“In regards to your inquiry, as you are aware, if the code number on the meter does not match the code number on the vial of test strips, the test results may be false.

When the strips are manufactured, the membrane is passed through a chemical bath which coats the membrane.  This chemical coating is what causes the test strip to react to your blood sample.  Due to varying degrees of coating on the membrane which cannot be controlled and the biological variances of human blood samples, there is no established percentile difference from one code to the next.  This is why we recommend checking and changing your meter code to match your vial of test strips any time you receive a test strip vial with a different code number than what was used previously.” [LifeScan Customer Service - Jennifer]

I still don’t understand why there are some meters that do not require a code.  Did they figure out something that LifeScan has not?