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How accurate is your meter?

R

rosscortb

Member
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Just wondering how accurate the meter you use is..I am using an Accu Chek Nano. I did some 2 tests in a row ( different fingers) and got reading 7.4 then 6.5. Just wondered if this is common?
 
Hi,

That's quite surprising for that level of measurement - at those kind of levels, my Onetouch Ultra gives a lot closer readings. However, the further you go from the 4-7 range, the greater the spread of readings can be. In the past I've tested and got, say 19.3, then done another to check and come in at 15-ish. In those circumstances I always do a third one to confirm one or the other... or a fourth if the third doesn't agree with 1 and 2!

Sam.
 
I've got two One Touch meters, the Ultra 2 and the UltraMini, both bought at different times. They both give identical readings.

The Ultra 2 was bought more than 4 years ago, and its never been calibrated (because I've forgotten how to do it) - and its still giving precisely the same reading as the new meter (accurate to the point). So yes I reckon they are fairly accurate.
 
rosscortb said:
Just wondering how accurate the meter you use is..I am using an Accu Chek Nano. I did some 2 tests in a row ( different fingers) and got reading 7.4 then 6.5. Just wondered if this is common?
Click to expand...

Make sure your hands are clean and there is nothing on them when you do your test. Maybe finger 1 has more sugar in its blood that finger 2! only joking - hows your circulation?
 
All the meters are surprisingly inaccurate! If you look in the manuals it will tell you what the confidence levels of the meter are. They are also more accurate at lower levels... (Makes sense tho' because you would treat a reading of 3 different to 5; but you probably would treat 13 different to 15)

If you test with two different meters (even with the same brand/model) you will often get different readings. See my readings below which I have just taken. (I have one meter in my desk, and one in my bag which I carry round)

Bayer Contour #1 = 7.9 & 7.3
Bayer Contour #2 = 5.8 & 7.5

This is one reason to use the same meter if doing hourly testing when trying to get your background insulin right...

Generally... I think most meters will be about +/- 1.5
 
I was once told by a bloke in the lifescan development team that it aslo depends on how you get the blood. Apparently if you have to squeeze your finger hard to get a drop of blood out he reckons skin cells get mixed in with the blood, which dilutes the sample & gives a lower reading.

I think he said that all meteres have to be accurate within 10% of each other.

His advice was to wash your hands before hand, prick the finger so that the blood drop appears without really having to squeeze it.
 
That's good to know - well, good to be warned. I do wonder sometimes about how easy or difficult it is to get blood out of my fingers, and why the variation. Sometimes think they're made of stone!
 
I believe most meters have a tolerance of 10% so a 7 could be a 7.7 or a 6.3 or anywhere in between, for that reason it is usually suggested that you stick with one meter so you get used to its readings.

Also use a high and low test solution every so often just to be safe :) (Free from meter manufacturers)
 
Hiya, I have 2 Bayer Contours, 1 at work and 1 I always carry unless I forget it, which is why I have 2, both meters read differently. I think sticking to 1 is best.

Has anyone tried that USB meter from Bayer, what do you think, I am going to get one, would be good to get some feedback on these

Cheers

Ray
Type1newbie
 
About the Bayer USB meter, I just went to the site to check it out. From what I can see the software is only for Windows PC's not macs, which sets up immediate warning signs to me. Lifescan had something like this years ago - but software was quite poorly designed and it was really was more work than it was worth. So bear these factors in mind
 
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