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Last updated on February 2nd, 2023
Contour TS or a contour test strip is a major revolution in the medical field aimed at helping the type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients in the proper management of their disease. It consists of test strips, which are specifically designed to function with your Contour Blood Glucose testing system.
Using these test strips and testing systems, the patients can take a blood glucose test sitting in the comfort of their couch in the living room.
A patient can easily test the blood sugar levels with these strips. It works with glucose meters to read the blood sugar levels. With this, you can keep a regular check on blood sugar levels without going to a clinic or seeing a doctor every time.
Moreover, when you regularly look after blood glucose levels and it becomes easy for you to ensure proper management of your food intake, medicines and exercise regime.
Summary
A Contour TS Test Strip and Contour Blood Glucose Testing System are used to take the blood glucose tests at home, making diabetes management easier for patients. These strips and machines provide accurate results without you having to go to see a doctor for your test results.
Also Read: List of Best Glucometer in India
How to Use Contour TS Test Strips?
The Contour TS glucometer is specifically designed to help you in monitoring your blood glucose levels and get accurate results. Interestingly, it also has an alarm system that reminds the user to take the test, if it is already past their scheduled time.
To keep a check on your blood sugar level, you must:
- Insert a test strip inside the Contour blood glucose meter
- Pinch your fingertip with the meter’s tiny needle, also known as a lancet
- Take a tiny drop of blood from your finger and put it on the edge of a test strip
- Within seconds, the glucose meter will give you a blood sugar reading
The strip can be used only once which means you will have to use a new strip every time you take a blood sugar test. You are recommended to take suggestions from your doctor on how many times you actually require to take this test in a day.
In case of type 1 diabetes, your doctor may ask you to take this test about 10 times a day. However, in case of type 2 diabetes, taking this test twice a day may be enough, but only if recommended by the doctor.
Summary
You just have to take a drop of blood from your finger using a pen-like needle, followed by putting it on a strip which is then inserted inside the machine to get blood glucose levels results.
Safety Information For Using Contour TS Testing Machine & Strips:
- Each strip should be used for single one time use
- Make sure to keep it away from children and your pets, if any
- Abide by the proper disposal methods mentioned on the pack while disposing the used strips
- Ensure keeping them in a cold and dry place
- Read the manual carefully
Contour has an alarm feature that will remind the individual each time to perform the test. These self-guided tests help navigate the kit without any training. You can perform over 800 tests with this kit. One of the features of this kit is that apart from showing instant results, it also keeps a record of average readings of 7, 14, 30, and 90 days, making it a perfect choice for type 2 diabetes patients.
Also Read: Diabetes and the Metallic Taste in the Mouth – Top Reasons
Contour TS Kit Contains
The kit consists of:
- The meter
- Microlet next lancing device/5 coloured microlet lancets
- carrying case
- user guide
- warranty card
- quick reference guide
The strips are coated with a minute layer of gold which is later cut into a pattern that becomes the strip circuit.
One of the ends of the strip is coated with chemicals. This end is responsible for soaking the blood you put on it like a sponge and transform the glucose present in it into electricity.
Now, this electricity travels from the strip to the meter placed on the machine and it shows a number which actually is the speed of the electric current. The higher the glucose, the stronger the current. Hence, when a patient has high blood glucose levels, it shows a higher number on the meter.
Sometimes, test strip problems are common causes of inaccurate readings. If you want to ensure that your test strip always provides the correct information about your blood glucose levels, you are advised:
- Never to use a damaged strip for a test
- Never to use expired strips
- Store the test strips away from heat, light, moisture, and humidity
- Make sure they’re the right strips for your meter
- Depending on the brand of the test strip you are using for the tests, you may have to calibrate or code the new strips to ensure correct functioning
Also Read: How to Reverse Kidney Damage From Diabetes Neuropathy?
Summary
You should never reuse a single strip, and ensure to keep them in a safe, cool and dry place, away from the reach of children and pets. You should never flout the strip disposal rules as mentioned on the pack of the machine. Also, damaged strips should not be used as it may show incorrect results.
Takeaway
Contour Test Strips and machines are a very effective mechanism to help diabetes patients keep a tab on their blood sugar levels with minimal effort and time. People, however, should only buy these machines and strips from authentic sellers. Having a good amount of knowledge about diabetes is also very necessary for the proper management of the disease.
Also read: Know About mmol/l to mg/dl Blood Glucose Converter
FAQs:
Can I use Contour TS strips with Contour Plus?
Yes, you can. It does not affect the result of blood glucose levels. With the introduction of no-coding technology, the error rate has been reduced by a huge margin.
How accurate is Contour TS?
To be very precise, lay users recorded 97.9 percent and HCPs recorded 98.6 percent accurate results. When the tests were conducted using venous blood, the results improved to 99.8 percent.
References:
- https://www.1mg.com/otc/contour-plus-combo-of-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-50-test-strips-otc624401
Last Updated on by Dr. Damanjit Duggal
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