Do You Buy Expired Test Strips? No, Here's Why
We buy sealed diabetic supplies for cash. We do not sell supplies.
No, we don't buy expired test strips. We only buy sealed strips that are still before the date on the box. The FDA warns that expired strips can give wrong results, so they can't safely go to someone else.
Selling? See how we buy test strips.
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own care.
If some of your boxes are expired and some aren't, you can still sell the good ones. Here's how to sort them and what to do with the rest.
Why don't we buy expired test strips?
Strips are made to work up to the date on the box. The FDA says expired or improperly stored strips can give incorrect results.
Wrong results aren't a small problem. The FDA notes they can lead someone to take too much or too little medicine. That's not a risk we'll pass on to another person.
So the rule is simple. If the date has passed, we won't buy the box, even if it's sealed and looks perfect.
We know that can feel like a waste. A sealed box looks brand new from the outside. But no one can see how the strips inside have aged, and the maker only stands behind them up to the date.
The same goes for strips that were stored badly. The FDA says strips must be stored properly to give accurate results. A box that sat in a hot garage may look fine and still be off.
How do you find the date?
Look for the hourglass symbol on the box label. The date next to it is the use-by date. That symbol comes from the ISO 15223-1 label standard.
Check both the outer box and the vial. The dates should match. If they don't, go by the earlier one.
Don't open a sealed box to check the vial, though. If you're selling, the outer label is what a buyer goes by. Opening the box means a buyer can't take it.
Dates are often written year first. So 2027-03-31 means March 31, 2027. Our guide on reading expiration dates explains the other formats.
What about strips that expire soon?
Strips close to their date are harder for any buyer to take. Most buyers need time left so the next person can use them.
Here's how it usually works:
- Lots of time left. These get the best offers.
- A few months left. Offers are lower, and some boxes may not be bought.
- Past the date. Not bought at all.
Our price list shows what we pay at different date ranges. If you have strips with a date coming up, decide soon.
Waiting almost never helps. Every month that passes takes time off the label, and time on the label is what a buyer looks at first. If you know you won't use a box, it's worth more today than it will be next month.
Does opening the vial change the date?
It can. Many strip brands say to use the strips within a set time after you open the vial. Your package insert says how long.
This only matters if you're using the strips yourself. We don't buy opened vials or opened boxes. Once a box is open, no buyer can tell how the strips were kept.
A good habit helps. Write the date you open each vial on its label. Then you'll know at a glance when it's time to start a new one.
What should you do with expired strips?
Don't use them for testing. If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Then deal with each item the right way:
- Strips. Test strips aren't sharps. Check your city's trash rules before you toss them.
- Lancets. These are sharps. The FDA says to put them in a sharps container right after use.
- Unexpired boxes. Keep these apart, so they don't get mixed in with the expired ones.
- Meters. If you have an old meter you no longer use, ask your pharmacist what to do with it.
Our guide on sharps disposal in California lists free drop-off and mail-back options.
A real-life example
Say you find eight boxes of test strips in a hall closet. You haven't used that meter in a year. You're not sure which boxes are still good.
Line them up and read each hourglass date. Three boxes expired last spring. Five are good until next year.
Set the three expired boxes aside and check your city's rules for tossing them. Don't hold on to them "just in case." It's easy to grab the wrong box later. Take photos of the five good boxes, with the dates in focus. Now you have something you can sell, and nothing expired is in the mix.
How do you keep strips from expiring?
A few habits go a long way:
- Sell extras soon after you know you won't use them.
- Use the oldest boxes first.
- Store boxes in a cool, dry place, in their original vials.
- Tell your doctor if strips keep piling up.
Keep strips away from the bathroom, the stove and sunny windows. Follow the storage range printed on the box, and close each vial right after you use it.
That last one matters. If you always have extra strips, your order may be larger than you need. Your doctor or pharmacy can change it, so fewer boxes expire in your closet.
Do test strips expire?
Yes. Every vial or box has an expiration date printed on it. Some brands also give a discard date once you open the vial. For example, OneTouch says to discard its strips 6 months after opening or at the printed date, whichever comes first.
The FDA says using expired strips can give incorrect results from your meter. Always check the date before you use or sell strips. Check your own brand's insert, since open-vial times vary.
Keep reading
Questions
Do you buy expired test strips?
No. We only buy sealed strips that are still before the date on the box.
Can I sell the unexpired boxes from the same lot?
Yes. Keep the expired boxes separate and send photos of each good box with its date.
Are expired test strips safe to use?
The FDA warns that expired strips can give incorrect results. Don't use them, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
How do I throw away expired strips?
Strips aren't sharps, so check your city's trash rules. Put used lancets in a sharps container.
Do test strips expire?
Yes. Each box has a printed expiration date, and some brands also set a discard date after the vial is opened. The FDA says expired strips can give incorrect results.
Have unexpired strips to sell?
We don't buy expired test strips, but we do buy sealed boxes that are still in date. That includes Contour Next, Contour, Accu-Chek Aviva Plus, SmartView and Guide, FreeStyle Lite and OneTouch Ultra. Send a photo of each box and date for a free quote.