Freezing temps and test strips.

I picked up another OneTouch Ultra2 today, with the idea of (a) having
it available as a spare, and (b) leaving it in the car so I don't
forget to take it with me when we head into the city (about 25 miles
away).

Today was quite chilly (about 2 degrees C), which made me wonder if
test strips might be adversely affected by being frozen. I note that
the test strip box has a caution that says not to refrigerate them,
but it doesn't say why. I see two possibilities; (1) it will
permanently ruin the strip, or (2) it will cause problems while the
strip is cold, and would have no problem after warming up.

It will get down to -35 sometime within the next six months or so.

I will be asking the company, but thought I'd bounce it off y'all here
too.

"Oleg Lego" <rat@atatatat.com> wrote in message
news:dd9eg35d96nd6t58hp3g17654rvl8tagen@4ax.com...
|I picked up another OneTouch Ultra2 today, with the idea of (a) having
| it available as a spare, and (b) leaving it in the car so I don't
| forget to take it with me when we head into the city (about 25 miles
| away).
|
| Today was quite chilly (about 2 degrees C), which made me wonder if
| test strips might be adversely affected by being frozen. I note that
| the test strip box has a caution that says not to refrigerate them,
| but it doesn't say why. I see two possibilities; (1) it will
| permanently ruin the strip, or (2) it will cause problems while the
| strip is cold, and would have no problem after warming up.
|
| It will get down to -35 sometime within the next six months or so.
|
| I will be asking the company, but thought I'd bounce it off y'all here
| too.
|

while thinking having a spare meter in the car is a good idea, it really
isn't. temps in cars can be upward of 30 degree difference then it is
outside. meters shouldn't get above 104F and 32F, I think strips are
about the same or very close to it.

pretty much, if they're exposed to temps outside their range, you've
just thrown your money away.

rk, t1
who's lost a meter and several vials of strips because of stupidity of
leaving them in the car thinking they'd be okay.

"Oleg Lego" <rat@atatatat.com> wrote in message
news:dd9eg35d96nd6t58hp3g17654rvl8tagen@4ax.com...
>I picked up another OneTouch Ultra2 today, with the idea of (a) having
> it available as a spare, and (b) leaving it in the car so I don't
> forget to take it with me when we head into the city (about 25 miles
> away).
>
> Today was quite chilly (about 2 degrees C), which made me wonder if
> test strips might be adversely affected by being frozen. I note that
> the test strip box has a caution that says not to refrigerate them,
> but it doesn't say why. I see two possibilities; (1) it will
> permanently ruin the strip, or (2) it will cause problems while the
> strip is cold, and would have no problem after warming up.
>
> It will get down to -35 sometime within the next six months or so.
>
> I will be asking the company, but thought I'd bounce it off y'all here
> too.
>

I have had meter & strips out in 10 degree F temps (~ -12C if my head's on
straight today) for about an hour; no problem after they warmed up inside
for about 15 minutes. I've had similar experiences with longer cold-exposure
but not quite *that* cold & only for a few hours at most.

(I say *that* cold because it was also windy & we were running several miles
that morning, though IIRC there was some sunny clear weather as well!
I was zipping & unzipping my jacket & taking my hat on & off every time the
wind shifted or we changed direction or anything!)

I wouldn't want to do it on a regular basis or for long periods of time (all
day, lotsa days, for example) but an occasional cold-weather-excursion seems
to be ok. I think really high/long heat exposure may more of a problem with
actual damage (it is for a lot of things), though I have nothing to back
that up with. I do have my meter out in 90F weather for an hour or two on a
regular basis with no trouble.
bj

On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 17:57:57 GMT, bj posted:

>
>"Oleg Lego" <rat@atatatat.com> wrote in message
>news:dd9eg35d96nd6t58hp3g17654rvl8tagen@4ax.com.. .
>>I picked up another OneTouch Ultra2 today, with the idea of (a) having
>> it available as a spare, and (b) leaving it in the car so I don't
>> forget to take it with me when we head into the city (about 25 miles
>> away).
>>
>> Today was quite chilly (about 2 degrees C), which made me wonder if
>> test strips might be adversely affected by being frozen. I note that
>> the test strip box has a caution that says not to refrigerate them,
>> but it doesn't say why. I see two possibilities; (1) it will
>> permanently ruin the strip, or (2) it will cause problems while the
>> strip is cold, and would have no problem after warming up.
>>
>> It will get down to -35 sometime within the next six months or so.
>>
>> I will be asking the company, but thought I'd bounce it off y'all here
>> too.
>>
>
>I have had meter & strips out in 10 degree F temps (~ -12C if my head's on
>straight today) for about an hour; no problem after they warmed up inside
>for about 15 minutes. I've had similar experiences with longer cold-exposure
>but not quite *that* cold & only for a few hours at most.
>
>(I say *that* cold because it was also windy & we were running several miles
>that morning, though IIRC there was some sunny clear weather as well!
>I was zipping & unzipping my jacket & taking my hat on & off every time the
>wind shifted or we changed direction or anything!)
>
>I wouldn't want to do it on a regular basis or for long periods of time (all
>day, lotsa days, for example) but an occasional cold-weather-excursion seems
>to be ok. I think really high/long heat exposure may more of a problem with
>actual damage (it is for a lot of things), though I have nothing to back
>that up with. I do have my meter out in 90F weather for an hour or two on a
>regular basis with no trouble.
>bj

Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to try it. Thanks.

On Sat, 6 Oct 2007 10:16:37 -0400, rk posted:

>
>"Oleg Lego" <rat@atatatat.com> wrote in message
>news:dd9eg35d96nd6t58hp3g17654rvl8tagen@4ax.com.. .
>|I picked up another OneTouch Ultra2 today, with the idea of (a) having
>| it available as a spare, and (b) leaving it in the car so I don't
>| forget to take it with me when we head into the city (about 25 miles
>| away).
>|
>| Today was quite chilly (about 2 degrees C), which made me wonder if
>| test strips might be adversely affected by being frozen. I note that
>| the test strip box has a caution that says not to refrigerate them,
>| but it doesn't say why. I see two possibilities; (1) it will
>| permanently ruin the strip, or (2) it will cause problems while the
>| strip is cold, and would have no problem after warming up.
>|
>| It will get down to -35 sometime within the next six months or so.
>|
>| I will be asking the company, but thought I'd bounce it off y'all here
>| too.
>|
>
>while thinking having a spare meter in the car is a good idea, it really
>isn't. temps in cars can be upward of 30 degree difference then it is
>outside. meters shouldn't get above 104F and 32F, I think strips are
>about the same or very close to it.
>
>pretty much, if they're exposed to temps outside their range, you've
>just thrown your money away.
>
>rk, t1
>who's lost a meter and several vials of strips because of stupidity of
>leaving them in the car thinking they'd be okay.

The LifeScan folks agree with you, and tell me that storing the
strips, in particular, at temperatures below 6 degrees C can damage
the enzymes in the test chamber. Oh well, at least I have a spare
unit. I'll just have to get used to taking it with me when I am going
to need it.

Thanks (and thanks to the other responders, too).