Why do lancets have expiration dates?

[MJB]

Do they rot or something after 4 years? :confused:

Seriously, anyone know why? I'm just curious.

[Harold]

Don't see a use before date on them. So no, not in general.

[EasyType2]

Just a guess ... but I suspect it has to do with tests carried out on length of period of sterility.

[KritterMom]

Very good question. I have no idea. I had never noticed an expiration date on them before. I'm sure mine are all expired by now, and I have tons of them, because I forget to change them.:)

[grace girl]

So you'll throw them out when they expire and buy yet more???

[KritterMom]

Excellent Grace Girl, could very well be. We all know how that kind of thing goes. Buy, Buy, Buy.:)

[JediSkipdogg]

I thought expiration dates were just recommended use by dates. ****, now you all tell me what they are for.

/me goes to check all the stuff in his fridge he bought for 50% off cause it was near expired :D

[duck]

Liability; No company is going to waste the amount of time to say "yeah, these things will last you 50 years", because they would have had to literally wait 50 years to be able to say that (during testing). So, they'll make a reasonable accommodation and set an expiry so they can't be sued if something weird should happen after X amount of years.

[gettingby]

Very good question. I have no idea. I had never noticed an expiration date on them before. I'm sure mine are all expired by now, and I have tons of them, because I forget to change them.:)
You mean to tell me that we have to change them??? :eek:
LOL !!!!!!!!!!!

[gnstriker]

The cynic in me says it's a means by which the health insurance companies can get more $$$ from you ... just like they say insulin expires after 30 days of being out and any other random thing they say to incite fear in the average end user.

[JediSkipdogg]

The cynic in me says it's a means by which the health insurance companies can get more $$$ from you ... just like they say insulin expires after 30 days of being out and any other random thing they say to incite fear in the average end user.

But most insulin does...

The problem I think has to do with sterility. I questioned one time on why my infusion sets for my pumps have an expiration date. Actually, this was for the insulin cartridges themselves. I questioned because I switched pumps and had about 7 boxes for the old pump. They said that they can only guarantee them being sterile till that date. After that germs and other items may be able to seep through the packaging and into the plastic. They said this would then make them non-sterile.

I assume the same would apply for lancets and shots. Since they do break the skin themselves, one would want them as sterile as possible.

Now, I just ignore it. LOL. if I get sick, I get sick.

[Harold]

Gone over my box 3 times and still do not see a date. What brand are we talking about?

[Jill-O]

Not having read the other replies, I would have to say NO they do not expire. I have 100's of syringes (for horse shots) and never crossed my mind that they could expire. I would think the lancets would be about the same. I only change my in-use lancet when it gets dull (3-4 days?).

[owlyn]

The FDA requires that anything approved by them have an exiration date, so the company just decides on a set period of time beyond which they are sure they will be used by (like two years- hah- little do they know how infrequently we change lancets).

[Lizzy]

Gone over my box 3 times and still do not see a date. What brand are we talking about?

Hey Herold, I can't find an expiration date on my One Touch strips either.

[Dewey]

The FDA requires that anything approved by them have an exiration date, so the company just decides on a set period of time beyond which they are sure they will be used by (like two years- hah- little do they know how infrequently we change lancets).

lol. I believe Owlyn is right. I've often seen exp. dates on things like syringes (that were in individual packaging to keep them sterile, etc.)....but, I never abide by them, lol! Like Owlyn, I rarely change lancets, and when I do, it's usually 'cause the one I'm using is curved over & super dull! lol :-

[Cyborg]

I've also wondered why bottled water has an expiration date... :hmmmm:

[MJB]

Harold, they're Freestyle and they are dated about 4 years out.