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BG meter

B

bowell

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Question
How far out can the readings be on a BG meter ??

Example I have two meters from the same manufacturer, different models, same age
3 months old or so
I have used the control fluid tests on both meters both come back within range of the strips/fluid.

Switching units on at same time and using same drop of blood

However typical readings are out by 1.0<>0.9 from each other i.e. 6.1 and 7.0

Bob


I’m OK
Its all the others
First HbA1c 11.9
 
my sister has the same problem she has two monitors both get the same readings with the control solution but with blood can be over 1.2 different sometimes higher sometimes lower so she does not no witch one is right.
if one was always higher then the other then a lest she would no witch one to use but the one that is higher in the morning might be lower at lunch so she has no idear witch one is right :(

sami
just found out
HbA1c 7.7
 
From manufacturer

Answers
No two meters will ever give the same reading
Normal to be out by up to 15% can be up to 20%

Unit Ok as long as test reading is in-between test solution / test strip limits i.e.

Low control 3.1<>4.8
High control 9.2<>12.4


This shows how much your meter may be out
http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/b236.htm



I’m OK
Its all the others
First HbA1c 11.9
 
Hi Bob,

I had a similar problem - I had an Accu-Check meter that I had for years and always relied on, then I bought a newer meter that didn't need recalibrating with control solution every time you replaced the drum of test strips. The new one consistently gave me readings of up to 60% higher than the old one, so naturally I thought this new one is rubbish.

Then I took both to my diabetes nurse, who checked them against a control solution and guess what - the new one was spot on. It was my old meter that had been giving false readings and tricking me into believing that I had better control than I really did have!

When the ADA say a meter could be up to 20% out, their table shows 20% either way, so actually a 40% error range.
 
Have you tried pricking a finger and noting the reading then immediately pricking another finger and noting the reading using the same machine? Can be seconds apart but often the results are widely different.
 
I asked my doctor about this a couple of days ago, he said that only by taking blood from a vein and processing it in the lab can one get a truly precise reading. He told me not to get so hung up about the readings on the meter, in that they have a degree of variability but are useful for showing a trend over time. I guess that's why the HbA1c is such an important result for evaluating how treatment is going.

Speaking of which, thanks Bob (Bowell) I'm finally feeling better to discover someone had a result higher than mine (by half a percent!!) I have to get the next test done in 2 weeks and the Dr assures me I will feel proud of my success in improving the result even in a few weeks. I hope so!
 
Hmm, I know that ther is some variabilty...but when we are asked to keep our blood sugar in such tight contol, this variabilty can be a big deal! I had a similar problem with my M edisense...and when I phoned them they basically told me " what do you expect of you don't use a different lancet each time" when I said it was from the same drop of blood, apparently this too could be contaminated???? Had they said, well, there is some inaccuracy, etc, I would have not felt so peeved, but the reading I was getting were miles aart. I stopped using it and moved to Accicheck, who seemed much better. Not perfect, but quite prepared to tell me what the limits of their machine are, and will swap the meter if it doesn't perform.
They are never the same, but there aren't too far apart either!
 
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by bowell</i>
<br />for info

Safety warning from http://www.mhra.gov.uk

Problem:
The OneTouch Ultra test strips may generate incorrect results when used in conjunction with the MediSense Optium, Optium Xceed or Boots brand meters.


http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Publications/Safetywarnings/MedicalDeviceAlerts/CON013895

I’m OK
Its all the others
First HbA1c 11.9
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Why would anyone want to use Ultra strips in an Optium meter? They are made by a different manufacturer. The correct strips for the Optium meters are Optium Plus strips from Abbott, they are individually wrapped in foil and come in a flat pack rather than a tub. Give results in 3 seconds. They are quite different from any other strips I have ever seen, so not easily mistaken. You should always ensure you have the correct strips for your meter.

Medisense have always been absolutely brilliant when I have phoned them and have twice replaced my meter when I said that I felt that I was getting some odd and inconsistent readings. I had an Accuchek meter that was all over the place before I got the Optium one. I also have an Ultra Smart meter and than can vary by quite a bit. I suppose you speak as you find.


Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3
 
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