Glucose QC Question

I believe this is in our SOP as well but that is very difficult to track. Inspectors will look at your SOP and may ask that. You should check what the manufacturer says about this and discuss with your lab director if the manufacturer is more lenient then you can also. 

We do have new glucose strip cannisters QC'd before being used for patient testing, in addition to running QC every 24 hours.

I did reference the package insert and did not find any requirement to perform QC on each new bottle of strips when opened.  I have also been looking through the NYDDOH CLEP standards as well as CAP.  Again, no specific reference to this process.  

I have been training nurses and nursing support staff for YEARS with this requirement without question, because it makes perfect sense, and it follows core lab processes.  My only evidence of compliance is the education we provide.  I have no tool to verify, no report to print.  

What glucometer do you use?

Nova Statstrip

Ok, I'm still new to POC and have only used the Accuchek Inform II, which thankfully locks the user out of patient testing until QC is performed on the strip lot if it has not been performed in the last 24 hours (per strip lot). That is good to know about the Nova Statstrip! I think we're up for renewing our contract in the next year or two, and my director has mentioned that particular glucometer. 

Nova also has the 24 hour lockout when QC is not performed.  My hospital policy states that QC is performed every 24 hours AND when a new bottle of strips is opened at any time throughout the day.  

Oh! I was reading that as though the new bottle opened was a new lot - sorry, I'm on the same page now. Not sure how you could track that. Our facility's policy is to QC new lots or new shipments received, and then once every 24 hours. 

It's been part of the glucose education well before my time, and I thoroughly understand the premise, but if asked to track this procedure, it is untrackable.  
Thanks for your input.

We require that QC is performed anytime a new vial of strips is opened, before using on patients.
I wonder: could a comment be built into the meter's comment menu, to add to the QC results when a new vial of strips is opened? This would make it  more trackable.