Blood Ketones Testing Strips Range

Blood Ketone Test Strips are designed for use with compatible blood glucose and ketone meters to measure β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) in a small blood sample. Blood ketone testing provides a quantitative result in mmol/L and is particularly useful for people with diabetes who need to check for rising ketone levels during illness or periods of high blood glucose.

Key features:

• Measures ketones directly in the blood
• Provides a numerical ketone result in mmol/L
• Uses a small finger-prick blood sample
• Fast results, typically within approximately 8–10 seconds depending on the system
• Useful during illness, hyperglycaemia or when advised as part of diabetes sick-day management
• Single-use test strips
• Available for a range of compatible blood glucose and ketone meters
• Many blood ketone strips are individually foil-wrapped for protection from moisture and contamination
• Blood ketone strips are meter-specific and are not interchangeable

Current UK systems include FreeStyle Optium β-Ketone, GlucoMen areo β-Ketone Sensor, KetoSens for CareSens Dual, and ketone strips for GlucoRx HCT, Smart and X6 systems. For example, FreeStyle Optium β-Ketone strips require 1.5µL of blood and provide results in around 10 seconds, while GlucoMen areo β-Ketone Sensors require 0.8µL and provide results in around 8 seconds.

How to use:

Wash and thoroughly dry your hands before testing.

Insert a new blood ketone test strip into the compatible meter according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Use a compatible lancing device and lancet to obtain a drop of blood from the fingertip. Apply the required amount of blood to the test strip.

Wait for the meter to display the blood ketone result. Follow your individual diabetes management or sick-day plan when interpreting the reading.

Dispose of the used strip and lancet safely after testing.

Understanding blood ketone results:

According to current NHS guidance, blood ketone levels below 0.6mmol/L are generally considered normal. 0.6–1.5mmol/L is slightly raised and should usually be rechecked after 2 hours. 1.6–3.0mmol/L indicates a risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and advice should be sought from the diabetes care team. A result above 3.0mmol/L is high and may indicate DKA; the NHS advises calling 999 or attending A&E. Individual treatment plans may use different action thresholds.

Important information:

Always select test strips that are specifically compatible with your blood ketone meter. Using the wrong strip may prevent testing or produce unreliable results.

Blood ketone strips are different from blood glucose strips, even when the same meter can perform both tests.

Blood ketone testing is also different from urine ketone testing. Blood meters measure β-hydroxybutyrate and provide a quantitative current result, whereas urine strips measure ketones excreted into urine and results are not directly interchangeable.

If you have diabetes and are unwell, have persistently high blood glucose, vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, unusual drowsiness or other symptoms of DKA, follow your sick-day rules and seek medical advice promptly. DKA can be life-threatening.

Store strips according to the manufacturer's instructions and do not use them after their expiry date or if their individual foil or container has been damaged.

Test type: Blood β-ketone testing
Measurement: β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB)
Units: mmol/L
Sample: Capillary whole blood
Pack size: Varies by product – commonly 10 strips

Always read the instructions supplied with your specific meter and test strips before use.