I just restarted Atkins again a week ago and I have Ketone Stix by TestMedia left from when I did it this summer. There is no expiration date on them but when I test (I should be in ketosis) the strips don't change color but become dark gray. I don't see a hint of purple in them although I am not drinking very much water so if I was a bit dehydrated I wouldn't be surprised. But they just go from gray to dark gray and if I remember correctly it seemed that when I did it before they were more of a tan color (closer to the neutral color on the bottle). I am wondering if my strips are too old or what. I know the strips aren't the be all end all of Atkins but I would like some confirmation so have the encouragement to stick with it. Has anyone had this problem? I was considering having my 5 year old pee on it to get a non-Atkins sample! Please help.
thanks

Hi there, and welcome!

The stix only have a shelf life of about 6 months after they've been opened. It does sound as though yours are outdated.

Personally I never bother with the things. They can be inaccurate for many reasons, giving false positive and false negative results. So I would just carry on with your plan, and worry about the weight, not the stix.

You'll find more info about ketostix in Low Carb Tips, on the orange bar at the top of the screen.

Rosebud

I didn't read anything on the container about them expiring so I appreciate the information. I will throw them away now and try to rely on the weight only. It is just nice to know when I am in ketosis. I did Atkins this summer and I think I was relying too heavily on low carb foods and sweets (and not eating enough protein) so having the strips then helped me see that even though I was not eating a lot of carbs I wasn't in ketosis. I am trying to be very strict this time but I just wanted that confirmation. It has only been six days and I guess I have lost 3 pounds but I want more!! We will see how next week goes.

Thanks

Hi,

I have been using my ketosis stix and I have had them probably a year or more. They are working great.....I stay dark purple! I don't know what is wrong with yours though? Maybe they were already on the shelf a while at the store even before you bought them and now have had enough time to get old? I would buy some more if you like to use them. Me personally......I like to see my ketosis stix change, the weighing scale, and my measurements too because it keeps me motivated. I am the kind of person that has to have some reason to carry on with dieting because I have so much to lose and have been at it SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO long.

Good Luck!!!

April

212/202/135

It sounds like my stix are bad and I will have to get some more. Perhaps I will split a bottle with someone since I have about 80 left that went bad!!

I tried getting them wet with water and there was no difference in color between the water and urine. That was a clear indicator that they weren't working but they didn't have an expiration date or indicate the shelf life on the bottle at all. They have been in my medicine cabinet in the bathroom for about 6 months so maybe some moisture got to them.

thanks for the info.

You shouldn't use any ketostix over 6 months old. They definitely won't be working correctly (either giving no result or false positives). I have them and used them a lot during induction (like 3 times a day!) just to make me feel better; now, I hardly bother with them except maybe after I cheat a bit just to see if I'm still okay or not. It's probably a waste of money to buy them. If you do get some, just get the smallest bottle they have which I think is 25 stix, then cut them length wise in half to last twice as long.

I never thought of cutting them in half. That would be great since my husband and I are both doing it. When I bought them they only had 100 bottles so I didn't know they came any smaller. Next time I will be a well educated consumer!!
Thanks

Ketostix, and basically all diagnostic strips of any kind will expire quicker once the seal on the bottle has been openend, and can be speedup by moister/humidity (like keeping them in a bathroom). Keep them stored in a cool dark place were the temperature is relitivly even (usually between 2 - 30 degrees celcius). Make sure the cap is well sealed very securly to keep out air/moister.

I am thinking there should have been an expiry date on the bottle you purchased, but maybe it was on the outside packaging (box) of this item.

I don't really feel you need Ketostix unless you are having problems losing the weight and need to test if you are in Ketosis.


Sccuffy

I had the same problem. I was using old keto stiks and I couldn't make them turn. I finally went and got new ones even though the expiration day said my old ones were fine. When I got the new ones they immediately turned. I didn't realize the ex. date was only good if they had not been opened.
It made me feel alot better to know I was in ketosis. I've only lost 3 pounds so far on induction, but seeing that stik turn purple made me feel better.

I did think it was weird that my bottle didn't have an expiration date on it nor did it say anything about storage or 6 months after opening. I will now know, not to keep them in the bathroom and to write the date I open them on the top. I also think I will try to buy less than 100 or split a bottle wth a friend.

Thanks for the support!! I am down 5.8 pounds and only have 2 days of induction left!! I can't wait to start eating Advantage bars with my coffee in the morning!! It is so much easier than making bacon and sausage and eggs!

I almost cheated yesterday when my oldest (5) slip his eyebrow and required stitches. I was gone all day, starving, at the ER and getting the other two picked up (3 1/3 y.o. and 17 mo old) while my husband was unreachable by phone at a conference. It was such a crazy day and I came home completely exhausted and starving and I really wanted nachos or pizza or cheesecake but my husband said he would go where I wanted to pick something up and so I stayed strong and had hot wings with bleu cheese and an italian soda (sugar free of course). So I am hoping I will continue to lose since I have a long way to go!!