Contour Next® Test Strips for Accurate Blood Glucose Checks

What Contour Next® Is and How It Works

Contour Next Test Strips are single‑use blood glucose strips designed for the Contour Next family of meters, including Contour Next, Contour Next EZ, and Contour Next One. They are available over the counter and are used for capillary whole blood from the fingertip. If you prefer to order contour next test strips online, YouDrugstore offers simple checkout and US shipping. YouDrugstore is a licensed Canadian pharmacy headquartered in Manitoba; prescriptions are reviewed by licensed pharmacists before dispensing.

Each strip uses FAD‑GDH enzyme chemistry with multi‑pulse sampling to deliver a result in about 5 seconds. The system requires only a small blood sample and does not need coding. Second‑Chance Sampling lets you add more blood within a short window if the first drop was insufficient, which helps reduce waste and improve accuracy on a single test.

We work with licensed, vetted international partner pharmacies so you can access authentic brand products across a broad selection at affordable pricing.

Dosage and Usage

• Wash and dry hands. Prepare your lancing device with a fresh sterile lancet.
• Insert a Contour Next strip into the meter. The meter turns on and is ready for a sample.
• Lance the side of the fingertip. Gently massage if needed to obtain a small drop.
• Touch the strip tip to the blood drop. Capillary action will pull the sample in.
• Hold until the meter beeps or indicates enough blood. Do not smear the sample.
• Results appear in about 5 seconds. Record or sync as preferred.
• If you see an underfill alert, use Second‑Chance Sampling within the allowed time.
• Discard the used strip and lancet in a proper sharps or puncture‑resistant container.
• Run control solution tests when opening a new vial, after exposure to extremes, or if results seem off.
• Use only with compatible meters. Do not mix brands of strips and meters.

• Store strips in the original vial at 5–30 °C (41–86 °F). Keep the cap tightly closed.
• Do not refrigerate or freeze. Avoid heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.
• Write the open date on the vial. Use within 6 months of opening or by expiry, whichever comes first.
• Do not transfer strips to another container. Do not use if the vial was left uncapped.
• When traveling, keep strips with your meter in carry‑on luggage. Avoid leaving them in a hot or cold car.
• Pack extra strips and lancets. Bring control solution if you expect temperature swings.
• Let supplies return to room temperature before testing if they were exposed to heat or cold.

Benefits and Savings

Contour blood glucose strips offer accurate, reliable readings with no coding. The strips need a small sample and return results quickly. Second‑Chance Sampling helps prevent wasted strips and re‑lancing. Many users appreciate the simple workflow and clear display on Contour Next meters.

Buying through a Canadian pharmacy can lower the contour next test strips price. Typical savings run 60–80% compared with many US retail prices, depending on pack size and local costs. You can choose multi‑month supplies to reduce the per‑month cost, and you can turn on reorder reminders in your account so you do not run short. If you plan to buy contour next test strips frequently, larger packs often provide a better unit cost.

For current promotions, see our contour test strips coupon page.

Side Effects and Safety

• Finger soreness, bruising, or mild bleeding at the lancing site.
• Skin irritation or dryness from frequent cleaning or alcohol wipes.
• Callus formation with repetitive lancing on the same spots.
• Incorrect readings if strips are expired, damaged, or stored improperly.
• Errors from contaminating the sample (food residue, lotions, dirt) on fingertips.

Serious issues are rare but may include infection at lancing sites if hygiene is poor. Incorrect readings can lead to missed high or low blood sugar. If you use insulin or a sulfonylurea, low values may indicate hypoglycemia; follow your care plan for treating low glucose. Use only fresh capillary whole blood. Do not reuse strips.

Onset Time

Results display in about 5 seconds from sample application. Expect immediate readings that reflect your current glucose level. Pattern insights develop over days to weeks as you test at consistent times, such as fasting, before meals, and two hours after meals, based on your clinician’s guidance. A1C changes reflect average glucose over roughly three months.

If you are new to home monitoring, consider reviewing meter basics in our Diabetes Mellitus Blood Sugar Monitoring category.

Compare With Alternatives

Some people compare contour next blood strips with other major brands. Freestyle® Lite Zipwik Test Strips also use a small sample and offer quick results. The FreeStyle ecosystem focuses on compact meters and gentle lancing. Feature sets differ by meter line, including backlighting, target ranges, and data apps.

Accu Chek® Aviva Test Strips work with Aviva meters and include wide‑mouth sampling and alternate site options on some models. Accuracy, usability, and app connectivity vary by brand and meter generation. Consider cost, availability, and which meter your clinic supports. If you already own a Contour Next or Contour Next EZ meter, choose the matching Contour blood test strips for compatibility.

Combination Therapy

• Used alongside insulin therapy to check pre‑meal, post‑meal, or bedtime glucose as directed by your care team.
• Used with oral diabetes medicines to monitor trends and guide discussions with your clinician.
• Used with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for confirmation checks when needed.
• When adding or intensifying insulin or a sulfonylurea, your clinician may adjust testing frequency to reduce hypoglycemia risk.
• Pair with quality lancets and a lancing device for comfortable sampling.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Contour glucose strips are intended for people using compatible Contour Next meters. They are not for use with other meter brands. They are for capillary testing and are not designed for arterial blood, neonatal use, or for patients on certain therapies where specific guidance is required. People on dialysis or with severe dehydration should seek clinical advice on testing methods.

Choose the right pack size for your schedule. If you test several times daily, larger packs such as contour strips 100 can reduce the per‑strip price. Check the expiry date before purchase and plan usage within the shelf life after opening. Set up simple reorder reminders in your account so you have a fresh vial when needed. Buying multiple months at once can further lower monthly spend.

If you monitor with a Contour Next EZ meter, you may see the term contour next ez strips used interchangeably with Contour Next Test Strips; both refer to the same strip platform for compatible meters. For those switching from bayer contour strips after the brand transition to Ascensia, confirm your meter model and choose strips specified for that meter family.

Authoritative Sources

Ascensia Contour Next test strips product page

FDA overview: Self‑Monitoring Blood Glucose Test Systems for OTC Use

Health Canada Medical Devices Active Licence Listing (MDALL)

Order Contour Next® from YouDrugstore: add to cart and check out, and we ship with prompt, express handling.

This material is educational. It does not replace advice from your healthcare professional.