Abbott Precision Xtra Blood Ketone Test Strips — 10/Box

MFR#: 74535  |  Medex SKU: ADE-7074535  |  UPC: 093815707455  |  By Abbott Laboratories

Measures Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) Directly  |  1.5 μL Blood Sample (70% Less Than Previous)  |  10-Second Result  |  End-Fill or Top-Fill  |  Visual Fill Confirmation  |  For Precision Xtra Meter Only  |  10 Strips per Box

The Abbott Precision Xtra Blood Ketone Test Strips provide the most clinically accurate method of ketone monitoring available for home and point-of-care use — measuring beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) directly from a small fingerstick blood sample rather than detecting acetoacetate in urine. BHB is the predominant ketone body circulating in the blood during both nutritional ketosis and diabetic ketoacidosis, making direct BHB measurement more sensitive, more accurate, and more representative of actual ketone burden than urine nitroprusside testing. The current-generation Precision Xtra ketone strips require only 1.5 microliters of blood — 70% less than earlier versions — and deliver results in 10 seconds. The strip accepts blood applied from either the end or the top, and a visual confirmation window indicates when sufficient blood has been applied. Compatible with the Abbott Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Testing System (the same meter also tests blood glucose with separate glucose strips). 10 strips per box. MFR# 74535. By Abbott Laboratories.

Specifications

Blood vs. Urine Ketone Testing — Clinical Comparison

Key Features

• Measures BHB directly — not acetoacetate — beta-hydroxybutyrate is the predominant ketone body in the blood at all stages of ketosis and ketoacidosis; the typical BHB:acetoacetate ratio in early DKA is 3:1 or higher; urine nitroprusside tests (Ketostix, Keto-Diastix) detect only acetoacetate and acetone, systematically underestimating total ketone burden when BHB predominates; the Precision Xtra strip measures BHB directly, providing the full picture of the patient's ketone level at the moment of testing
• Real-time result — no urine lag — urine ketones reflect blood ketone levels from the hours preceding the urine collection rather than the current moment; blood BHB testing reflects the actual circulating ketone concentration at the time of the fingerstick, allowing for real-time monitoring during DKA management and immediate response to rising ketone levels
• 1.5 microliters — 70% less blood than previous generation — the updated Precision Xtra ketone strip requires a very small blood sample; the smaller volume reduces the need for repeated lancet attempts and makes testing more comfortable, particularly for patients who test frequently
• 10-second result — faster than most glucose meters; results display in 10 seconds after blood application, enabling rapid clinical decisions in acute situations
• End-fill or top-fill with visual confirmation — the strip accepts blood applied to either the end (traditional approach, where the strip tip is touched to the blood drop) or the top (where blood is applied to the surface of the strip); a visual confirmation window on the strip shows that sufficient blood volume has been applied, eliminating the uncertainty of inadequate fill and the need to retest
• Dual-purpose meter — the Precision Xtra meter accepts both blood ketone strips (this product, 74535) and blood glucose strips (sold separately), making it a single-device solution for patients who need to monitor both ketones and glucose at home
• 10 strips per box — appropriate for periodic sick-day DKA monitoring, post-activity ketone checks, or occasional keto diet tracking rather than daily testing

Clinical FAQs

Why is blood BHB testing more accurate than urine ketone testing for DKA monitoring, and when does the difference matter most?

The critical difference is what each test detects and when it detects it. Urine ketone strips (including Ketostix and the ketone pad on Keto-Diastix) use the nitroprusside reaction to detect acetoacetate — one of three ketone bodies. Beta-hydroxybutyrate, the third ketone body and the most abundant one in DKA, is not detected by urine strips at all. In early diabetic ketoacidosis, the metabolic pathway produces BHB at approximately 3 to 10 times the rate of acetoacetate, meaning the majority of the total ketone burden is simply invisible to urine testing. As DKA progresses and is treated, BHB is progressively converted to acetoacetate — the urine strip result can paradoxically worsen while the patient's metabolic state is actually improving, because more acetoacetate is now detectable as BHB converts. Blood BHB testing bypasses all of this: it measures the predominant ketone body directly from the blood at the moment of the fingerstick, providing a true real-time picture of total ketone burden that is sensitive to early DKA and accurately tracks improvement during treatment. The difference matters most in three situations: when a Type 1 diabetic patient has elevated blood glucose and needs to rule out early DKA before it becomes severe; during sick-day management when insulin requirements are changing and ketone levels are being tracked over hours; and for patients on very low carbohydrate diets who want to confirm and quantify nutritional ketosis accurately rather than relying on the semi-quantitative urine dip color. For routine periodic monitoring without acute DKA concern, urine ketone strips are adequate and more economical; for situations where precision matters or where early DKA detection is the clinical goal, blood BHB testing is the appropriate tool.

How do I use the Precision Xtra ketone strips and what BHB values should concern me?

To use the Precision Xtra ketone strip, insert the strip into the Precision Xtra meter — the meter will power on automatically and display a blood drop symbol when it is ready. Obtain a small fingerstick blood sample using a lancing device. Touch the end or the top of the strip to the blood drop and hold it until the visual fill confirmation window shows that sufficient blood has been collected — do not move the strip once blood application has started. The meter will display the BHB result in mmol/L within 10 seconds. Reference ranges for interpreting BHB results: below 0.6 mmol/L is normal (no meaningful ketone elevation); 0.6 to 1.5 mmol/L is mildly elevated (warrants attention and monitoring, particularly in Type 1 diabetics — check blood glucose and retest in 1 hour); 1.5 to 3.0 mmol/L is moderately elevated (contact your healthcare provider for guidance on insulin adjustment and sick-day management); above 3.0 mmol/L is significantly elevated and warrants immediate medical evaluation as this may indicate developing DKA. For ketogenic diet users without diabetes, BHB values of 0.5 to 3.0 mmol/L are typical of nutritional ketosis and are not pathological; values above 3.0 mmol/L in a non-diabetic without illness are uncommon but should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Always follow your own care team's specific guidance for the BHB thresholds relevant to your individual situation.

Can the Precision Xtra ketone strips be used with any blood glucose meter, or only the Precision Xtra?

The Abbott Precision Xtra Blood Ketone Test Strips (MFR# 74535) are designed and calibrated specifically for the Abbott Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Testing System and are not compatible with any other meter. Each blood ketone strip format uses a specific enzyme chemistry and electrochemical sensing system that is matched to the meter's measurement algorithm — a ketone strip from the Precision Xtra will not physically fit into, or produce accurate results on, other meter platforms. The Precision Xtra meter is a dual-purpose device: it accepts both blood ketone strips (this product) and blood glucose test strips (sold separately, in 50 and 100-count boxes). The ability to run both ketone and glucose tests on one meter is a practical advantage for patients who need both — particularly Type 1 diabetics on sick-day protocols who routinely check both blood glucose and ketones together. The ketone strip and glucose strip are different products with different part numbers and must be ordered separately; the meter box and glucose strip boxes do not include the ketone strips. If you do not already have a Precision Xtra meter, it is available from MDS — call us at 1-866-218-0902 to confirm meter and strip availability and to discuss whether the Precision Xtra system is the right fit for your monitoring needs.

Questions about the Precision Xtra Blood Ketone Strips, the Precision Xtra meter, or blood ketone monitoring? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902  |  Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–3pm EST