How to test with control solution
Control solution has a known amount of glucose or ketone in it. Running it confirms your meter and strips are working — and that your technique is spot on. The steps are the same for glucose and ketone strips.
- Takes a minute
- No blood needed
- Glucose or ketone
When to run a control test
When you first get your meter, about once a week as a routine check, and any time something doesn't seem right.
Perform the test
Seven steps, glucose or ketone. Use the matching control solution and the matching strip.
Insert a test strip
Slide a strip into the meter and it turns on by itself. Use the same strip type you want to check — glucose or ketone.
Shake the control solution vial
Shake the vial thoroughly so the solution is well mixed before you use it.
Squeeze out the first drop and discard it
Squeeze a drop onto a napkin or tissue and throw it away. This clears the tip so the next drop is clean.
Put a fresh drop on the vial cap
Squeeze a second drop onto the tip of the vial cap — not directly onto the strip.
Touch the strip to the drop
Bring the edge of the test strip to the drop and hold it there until the confirmation window is completely filled.
Wait for the countdown
The meter counts down and shows your result, just like a normal test.
Compare to the range on the vial
Check the result against the control solution range printed on the test strip vial. It should fall within that range.
A few important notes
Straight from the manual — worth keeping in mind.
Never apply control solution straight to the strip
Always dispense it onto the vial cap first, then touch the strip to the drop.
The meter knows it's a control test
It automatically recognizes this as a QC (Quality Control) test and stores it separately in memory — so it won't mix in with your blood readings.
If the result is out of range, repeat the test
If it's still outside the printed range, do not use the meter for blood testing — contact us and we'll help.
Read the manual
Read the complete BKT TD-4279 meter manual (PDF, opens in a new tab).
Result still out of range?
Don't test with blood until it checks out. Reach out and a real person will help you sort it.
Contact support
