Accurate readings that you can trust

The company who brings you CONTOUR® products, Ascensia Diabetes Care, offers a portfolio of blood glucose meters which provide suitable accuracy levels for various therapy types.

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Accurate readings can help you make the right decision when they matter most Arrow icon
What affects the accuracy of your blood glucose readings? Arrow icon

Accurate readings can help you make the right decision when they matter most

  • Our CONTOUR®PLUS BLUE meter is ideal for those with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2, is remarkably accurate +/-8.7% compared to lab readings, surpassing even the industry standard1,4,** enabling more accurate insulin dosing.
  • This means you can be confident that your meter exceeds accuracy requirements.
 

What affects the accuracy of your blood glucose readings?

Have you have ever compared two different types of blood glucose meters and wondered why you don’t get the same reading? How can you be sure that the readings you are getting are accurate? 

The below are some of the factors which influence blood glucose meter accuracy and performance: 

  • Meter accuracy and precision of results – new standards allow meter performance accuracy to vary against readings done in a lab setting by +/- 15%.
 
  • Not enough blood glucose sample – sometimes you might not get enough blood the test strip which could give an inaccurate result. The CONTOUR®PLUS test strip uses Sip-In Sampling technology which easily fills the test strip. The meter also gives an audible signal once the test strip is full to help you test correctly first time. The CONTOUR®PLUS test strip also features Second-Chance™ sampling which allows you to apply more blood to the same strip if the first was not enough for up to 30 seconds. Second-Chance sampling also exceeds ISO 15197:2015 accuracy criteria on second sampling9.
  • Meter not coded correctly – Miscoding of meters can produce inaccurate readings by up to 4 mmol/L10. The CONTOUR®PLUS strips have no coding technology as they have calibration electrode integrated into the strip and automaticallt calibrated the meter upon insertion. So basically you don’t need to do anything to prepare the meter to ensure that CONTOUR®PLUS BLUE meter is correctly calibrated.
 

  • Effect of temperature or lighting conditions – Extremes of temperature or exposure to light may produce inaccurate readings. We have designed our CONTOUR®PLUS test strips to have a shelf life of 24 months and stay accurate under a wide variety of conditions including temperature, altitude and humidity. 

  • Testing technique – It’s important that meters are easy to use to minimise errors7. For example squeezing the blood sample site may result in inaccurate results. With our CONTOUR®PLUS test strips they take a tiny sample size, helping you to get the right amount of blood on your first try. If you didn’t get enough on the first go, the CONTOUR®PLUS test strips also have Second-Chance™ sampling, which allows you to add more blood to the same strip to help avoid the need for repeat finger pricking.
  • Meter not cleaned correctly – some meters on the market may producte inactive results if they are not cleaned correctly. With the CONTOUR®PLUS BLUE meter, blood is easily sipped into the test strips itself with no blood entering the meter during the testing process. This means that there is no need for internal cleaning of our meters.
  • Dirty hands – dirty hands can affect blood glucose meter results. That is why it is important to wash your hands with warm soapy water before testing.
 

Shaky hands, noisy surroundings, busy morning?

It's not always easy to perform a blood glucose reading. The CONTOUR®PLUS BLUE blood glucose meter provides you with 30 seconds to apply more blood to the same strip*, if needed, making easy to perform a reading even in imperfect conditions.

Discover CONTOUR®PLUS BLUE


References:

*The improved version of the CONTOUR® meter (black and silver design) meets the more stringent EN ISO 15197:2015 accuracy requirements,1,2 but functions in exactly the same way as the original meter, using the same strips. The only visible difference is the change in colour from blue/purple/green and silver to black and silver. If you or any of your customers are using one of the original Contour® meters (blue/purple and green colours), contact us immediately to upgrade your meter today by calling Ascensia Diabetes Care support on 0345 600 6030

*When calling, you will be asked to supply your contact details, meter name, serial number and to quote reference ‘WEBUPG’. We will arrange to supply you with a meter straight away from our current Contour portfolio which meet the standards.

** ** Results from an ad hoc analysis of the CONTOUR®PLUS BLUE system demonstrated that 95% of the total results were within ±0.50 mmol/L or ±8.7% of the YSI reference glucose values (YSI Life Sciences, Inc., Yellow Springs, OH) for subject-obtained capillary fingertip results from subjects with diabetes for samples with glucose concentrations <5.55 mmol/L and ≥5.55 mmol/L, respectively.

  1. International Organisation for Standardisation. In-vitro diagnostic test systems - requirements for blood-glucose monitoring systems for self-tFNEXTesting in managing diabetes mellitus. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organisation for Standardization, 2015
  2. CONTOUR®TS User Guide. 
  3. Data on File. Ascensia Diabetes Care. 
  4. Data on File. Ascensia Diabetes Care. Error Range Memo. October 4, 2019.
  5. CONTOUR®NEXT LINK, Data on File. Ascensia Diabetes Care UK Limited 
  6. Barry H. Ginsberg, M.D., Ph.D. et.al. Factors Affecting Blood Glucose Monitoring: Sources of Errors in Measurement, J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2009 Jul; 3(4): 903–913.
  7. Tonyushkina M.D et. al. Glucose Meters: A Review of Technical Challenges to Obtaining Accurate Results, J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2009 Jul; 3(4): 971–980.
  8. CONTOUR®NEXT test strips with GDH-FAD chemistry cross react with xylose. Do not use CONTOUR®NEXT test strips during or shortly after a xylose absorption text
  9. Harrison B, et al. Poster presented at the International Clinical Diabetes Technology Meeting of the Diabetes Technology Society (DTS). Los Angeles, California, 20-21 April, 2012 
  10. Department of Health evaluation, best practice. A guide to blood glucose meters in the UK market, 2015. 11 Bailey T et al. Performance evaluation of the CONTOUR® blood glucose monitoring system, with an updated meter algorithm, in the hands of users. Abstract 58. Presented at the 8th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD); 18-21 February 2015; Paris, France.

The information on this site is intended to provide you with information about Ascensia Diabetes Care’s products and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions.  Any questions or concerns you have regarding diabetes or a medical condition should always be discussed with a qualified medical professional.