Glucose control solution can be used to complete a quality check on your blood glucose monitoring system. Be sure to identify the correct range that corresponds to the type of control solution you have. Your test strip vial should show the target range for each different level of control solution. The different options, or “levels” - Level 1, Level 2, or Level 4 for example - have glucose ranges that are different from one another, typically corresponding with low, normal, or high glucose concentrations. Manufacturers often have a few options of control solution that are compatible with each brand of test strips. This value should fall within the target range printed on the test strip vial, which is based on the concentration of glucose in the control solution.
A glucose control solution reading on your meter appears as a numerical value. Your blood glucose monitoring system can detect the amount of glucose present in control solution in a similar way to how it detects the amount of glucose present in blood.
Read on for information on how to get started using control solution: Therefore, a control solution test can be used to check if your meter and test strips are reading blood sugar levels properly by providing the expected result. Control solution for a glucometer has a known amount of glucose set by the manufacturer, whereas the concentration of glucose within human blood can fluctuate, even when measuring the same drop of blood. However, the properties of the fluids are different, and the test results are used for separate purposes. Testing using control solution is a similar process to testing a blood sample. Control solution can also be handy to practice using your meter without needing to do a finger stick. Checking your blood glucose monitoring system to make sure it is working properly can be done easily at home with glucose control solution.