Test strips & lancets

Test strips & lancets: the supplies for your Go-Keto Meter

In this article:

• What are test strips?
• Tip: measure ketones and glucose in one go
• Using and storing test strips
• The thing about lancets
• How many do you need?

You probably know by now that you need test strips for each measurement of blood ketone and glucose levels with a ketone and/or glucose meter. Our Go-Keto Meter is the #1 ketone meter in Europe, known for its accuracy and ease-of-use. We also offer the GK Dual Meter, which is a similar but slightly older model.

The Go-Keto test strips can be used in both the Go-Keto Meter and the GK Dual. Make sure to always use Go-Keto or GK Dual test strips. Other brands simply won't work with your meter.

What does a ketone or glucose strip look like?

Basically, its just a 3 by 0,6cm strip of white paper with a thick dark line at one end and a metallic pattern at the other; the back side is plain white. It's marked either ‘Ketone' or ‘Glucose' to indicate what it's for. Three tiny arrows show you how to insert it in the meter. Always keep those arrows pointed towards you when you prepare to measure and you can't go wrong.

The dark line at the top end of the meter is not for decoration. It's called a ‘capillary', which is the technical term for a small tube with a tiny opening at the end. If you touch the blood droplet with this open end, it automatically sucks in any fluid it touches. In this case, it's used for drawing in a tiny amount of blood so your Go-Keto Meter can analyse it.

The electrical circuit at the other end, which you insert in the meter, is there to make the connection with the meter.

Using your new test strips

Whenever you open a new box of test strips, remember to insert the code chip that is inside this new box. On the chip you will find a code that matches with the code printed on the box and the container (vial). For ketone strips, the code starts with ‘K'; for glucose, it's ‘G'. The code chip has the calibration information to automatically calibrate the meter.

If the correct code chip is in your meter, its code will match both the code on your test strip vial and the code on your display when you insert the matching test strip. Always check that this is the case.

How to insert the code chip

With the meter turned off, you insert the code chip into the slot on the left side of the Go-Keto Meter (if necessary, first take out the old one). It easily clicks into place. You can then measure as usual.

If you want to measure glucose as well as ketone levels, make sure you have both types of strips at hand. To code the meter for both measurements without having to switch the code chips all the time, follow these easy steps.

Coding your meter for both ketone and glucose readings:

1. Insert the glucose code chip that comes with the test strips.
2. Take a first glucose measuring with the glucose code chip inserted.
3. Remove the glucose code chip from the meter
4. Insert the ketone code chip that matches your ketone test strips.
5. The glucose code is stored in the meter.
6. Always leave the ketone code chip in the meter.

You can now measure ketones as well as glucose by just inserting the appropriate test strip in the Go-Keto Meter. The meter will recognize the strip and take the reading as required.

Important: remember to always code the meter again for each new box of test strips with the enclosed code chip - glucose or ketones - and always (re-)insert the correct ketone chip after coding the meter for glucose.

TIP: measure your glucose and ketone levels in one go! If you have followed the 5 steps above, you can easily do this, saving an extra finger prick. Just change the test strip immediately after the first test and measure from the same droplet of blood.

How to store your test strips

Measuring ketones and glucose with the Go-Keto Meter or GK Dual Meter and Go-Keto test strips is so easy that you'll be familiar with it in no time. So here are some tips for keeping your test strips in prime condition for accurate readings.

• You can use each test strip only once.
• Regularly check your strips' expiry date. Expired strips wont give accurate results.
• Store your test strips in the vial they come in and keep them in a cool dry place at room temperature.
• Test strips are sensitive to moisture in the air, so only open the vial to take out a strip and put the lid back on immediately. Use the strip immediately after you take it from the vial.

Takeaway: for accurate testing, make sure to store and keep your test strips under the correct circumstances.

The thing about lancets
A lancet is a tiny needle that you need to prick your finger. Just insert it in the lancing device (or lancet pen) and you're ready to go.

The lancet pen is a small pen-like device fitted with a spring in which you can insert a small sterile needle - a lancet - to make a puncture in your finger.

GOOD TO KNOW: A lancet pen with 10 lancets is always included with the Go-Keto Meter and the GK Dual Meter!

Using the lancet and lancet pen in detail:

1. Wash you hands thoroughly.
2. Screw open the pen and insert the lancet on top, leaving the safety tip on. Push it downward until it clicks.
3. Take off the safety tip by gently turning it. Screw the top back on.
4. You can adjust the depth of the puncture by turning the top. The idea is to use the lightest depth/lowest number possible, so just start from setting “1” and go higher by baby steps until you find what's right for you.
5. Draw back the small bolt on the pen to 'charge' it.
6. Now hold the device to the tip of your middle or ring finger, a bit on the side, and click the button to release the lancet. The drop of blood appears.
7. After using the lancet, open the pen and stick the protective tip back on the needle. Slide the lancet out of the pen by pushing forward the little bolt, and dispose of it carefully.

This might seem a lot, but if you've done it once, you'll know how easy it is! The puncture is really no more than a pinprick. The main thing to remember is that however tiny the prick, you still need to be hygienic, of course.

Here's how you use your lancets safely:

• • Always wash your hands well before measuring.
  • Don't take the plastic safety tip off the lancet until you fitted it in the pen.
  • Put the tip back on the needle for safety after using it.
  • MOST IMPORTANT: NEVER USE THE SAME LANCET TWICE!

Once used, the lancet is no longer sterile, meaning there is danger of infection. So be wise and take a new lancet each time you measure.

Takeaway: using lancets correctly and safely is easy, once you know what to do. Just make sure to use each lancet only once!

Control Solution - do you need it?

You will always find a small vial of so-called control solution enclosed with your Go-Keto or GK Dual Meter. To begin with, you are unlikely to need it; it's only there for you to confirm that your meter's doing its job properly, should you ever be in doubt. And since the Go-Keto Meter is extremely reliable, most users never need to run this check at all.

So how does it work? The control solution contains a known amount of ketones. You can do a control test with the ketone control solution and a ketone test strip. Please note: you can't do a glucose control test with the ketone control solution. Read the manual and watch our video for detailed information.

Again, you'll probably never need this. But should you have used the first bottle that comes with the meter and want to do the check again, you can easily order control solution from our web shop.

How many test strips and/or lancets do you need?
Check out our different bundles of test strips and lancets and take you pick!

	50 ketone + 50 glucose test strips + 100 lancets	100 ketone test strips + 100 lancets	100 glucose test strips + 100 lancets	Ketone test strips x25	Glucose test strips x50	Lancets X100
Ketone test strips	50	100	--	25	--	--
Glucose test strips	50	--	100	--	50	--
Lancets	100	100	100	--	--	100