Accuracy Standards in Glucose Meters: Why do different meters read different results?

Our diabetes educator helps you understand your blood glucose meter.

By Susan B. Sloane, BS, RPh, CDE

My patients frequently come to me with questions concerning their blood glucose testing equipment.  A commonly asked question is “Why do my testing results vary meter to meter?”  The answer simplified is that meters are tested for accuracy and must adhere to Self-Testing Blood Glucose Monitoring System ISO standard and US guidance, and can only vary by 15 percent compared to reference method. The variation allowance confused a lot of patients.  This can be especially alarming when using a new product that doesn’t seem to “match up” to a blood glucose meter you have been using.

The ISO, International Standards Organization, has guidelines that meter companies must meet and the FDA in the US as well. Currently, all measured blood glucose meter values must be within 15 percent of the true lab value of blood glucose 95 percent of the time and within 20 percent of the lab value 99 percent of the time

Although this can be confusing, a blood glucose value that is a lab value of 100mg/dl could conceivably show up on a meter as 80-120mg/dl and still be considered accurate.

Fortunately, Dario has undergone considerable testing and meets and/or exceeds ISO standards by being within 20 percent 99% of the time.

What does this mean for you, the end user?  This means that meters manufactured before the stricter ISO standards were in place can vary a bit more. Meters for at home use can be quite accurate most of the time but will have variances.

That is why we suggest that you don’t bounce back and forth between using different meters throughout the day. The important thing to remember is to use a single brand of meter consistently and compare values at your doctor’s office to ensure that you are confident in what your meter reads.

At DarioHealth we take our product accuracy very seriously, and we consistently test our meters and strips to ensure that you can have the utmost confidence that when you purchase Dario, you are receiving a quality, reliable product.

So, don’t forget: Choose one meter to test to ensure regularity and reliability and to reduce confusion. Choose Dario.