The new accuracy standards are set by the FDA in the United States and state that, "glucose meters should be within 15% accuracy of each lab blood test 95% of the time and 20% of each lab blood test 99% of the time." You should bring your glucose meter to your physician visit every 3 months to compare your results with the lab results. The FDA also requires the newer diabetes meters to be more accurate. Home meter accuracy can vary, based upon strip quality and freshness, how you perform the test, if you touch a substance such as vitamin C, soap, hand or body lotion or sugary foods, your present hematocrit level, and the temperature, altitude, and humidity in your region. Strip accuracy is critical.
Keep the strips in the original container until they are needed. Checking your test strips with control solution should be done when opening a new vial of strips. A drop of testing solution is put on the strip after it is placed into the diabetes meter. There will be a range of numbers provided on the side of the bottle of strips; the result on the inserted strip should be within the range on the bottle. This test will help provide more reassurance that your strips are good, and the results are accurate. Always compare with the testing solution to your actual number if you have a questionable or unreasonable result. Bring your glucose meter to your doctor's appointment to compare blood glucose results as well.