Can you sell expired diabetic test strips?

It's a question we get regularly, and the answer is nuanced. Here's the straight truth about selling expired or nearly-expired diabetic supplies.

The short answer: no for expired, sometimes for close-to-expiring

Legitimate buyers — including TestStrip Buyback USA — do not purchase supplies that have already passed their expiration date. The people who buy these supplies use them to manage their diabetes, and selling expired supplies puts their health at risk. No reputable buyer accepts them.

For supplies that haven't expired yet but are getting close, the answer depends on how much time is left.

The expiration window buyers use

Most buyers in the secondary market use a minimum expiration threshold — the cutoff below which they can't make an offer. This varies slightly by buyer and product:

• 3 months minimum: The most common threshold. Supplies with less than 3 months to expiration typically can't be accepted because they'd expire before reaching an end buyer.
• 3–6 months: Some buyers will make an offer in this range but at significantly reduced prices — often 30–50% less than the same item with 12+ months remaining.
• 6–12 months: Full market value, with some variation.
• 12+ months: Best offers, no deductions for expiration proximity.

Why expiration dates matter for diabetic supplies

The expiration date on test strips and CGM sensors isn't arbitrary. Over time, the chemical reagents in test strips degrade — leading to inaccurate blood glucose readings that can result in dangerous under- or over-treatment decisions. CGM sensor accuracy also degrades after the expiration date. These aren't like a canned good where a few weeks past the date is probably fine.

What to do with supplies that are already expired

If your supplies have already expired, selling them isn't an option. Your choices are:

• Discard — test strips and sensors can go in regular household waste once removed from the box. Lancets are sharps and should go into a sharps container.
• Contact the manufacturer — some manufacturers (Dexcom, Abbott, Insulet) have return or disposal programs for patients who have difficulty disposing of supplies.
• Check with a local pharmacy — many pharmacies have medical waste drop-off, particularly for sharps.

What about test strips specifically?

Test strips expire faster in most buyers' eyes than CGM sensors, for two reasons: there are more competing buyers for CGM supplies, and test strip brands cycle in and out of insurance formularies quickly, affecting demand. The minimum threshold still applies (3 months), but the best offers on test strips go to boxes with 9+ months remaining.

The earlier you submit, the better

The most common mistake people make is waiting too long. If you know you have supplies you won't use — because of an insurance change, a new prescription, or inheriting them from a family member — submit a quote request now. You'll get a firm number, and you can decide from there with no obligation.