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Meter consistency

norman1312

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I had been using a LifeScan UltraSmart meter for years, until I was informed that the strips would be withdrawn as it didn't conform to the latest ISO standard.
In its place I was given a VerioIQ that, right from the start, gave me problems with the strips it used, That was replaced with a Verio that seems to be a bit better,
At my last diabetic nurse appointment she gave me an alternative meter, a GlucoRx Nexus, that I started to use to see if it would behave better,
I have now been testing with both meters for about 2 weeks, and the results are a bit disturbing,
The Nexus has been giving results that are at least 15% lower than the Verio's.
For example, today's reading with the Verio are 8.7, 6.2 and 6.5. The Nexus reports 6.5, 5.1 and 5.5.
So, I'm really confused now.
How can I determine which is 'better'?
I can't keep testing with two meters as I can only get one set of strips on prescription. I can't afford to buy strips so I need to know which one to go with.
There must be people in the forum that have used similar meters and could say which one I would be better off using?
 
Do you have any control solution with these monitors? If not, you could call the manufacturer and ask for some - they usually give it out free. Then you could see which meter tests closest to the centre of it's control solution range (which will be printed on the bottle).
 
Now that throws up some interesting numbers. I have actually done 2 control solution tests on both meters.
For the Verio they are 40% and 65%. For the Nexus they are 51% and 48%.
I was always concerned about the range of the values for the test solution. It looks like the Nexus is better.
Yes, I know about the 15% - that's what the new ISO standard requires. But that implies a pretty wide range of possible values.
It looks increasing like the Nexus is 'better'.
Any other comments on the situation?
 
Stick with one meter and don't do any comparison tests.
The GlucoRx gave very inaccurate results (in comparison to best systems) in this test report: http://www.jdst.org/September2012/PDF/VOL-6-5-ORG2-FRECKMANN.pdf
Granted this test was performed using an older meter model. The newer versions may be better, but only if they have improved the test strips.
The Verio results were better but still not up to the best. Most accurate systems were those meters using the Freestyle Lite strips (Abbott Diabetes Care). I suggest you request those from your HCP.
 
The GlucoRx Nexus is a TD-4277. That is not the meter in the report. However, there are other reports that I can find that also don't think very highly of the GlucoRx offerings.
That seems at odds with their statement that " All GlucoRx Nexus meters comply with the requirements of ISO 15197:2013. This standard states that 95% of the meter readings above 4.2mmol/l would have to be +/- 15% compared with the reference method ‘YSI-2300 glucose analyser’. The YSI is the laboratory meter that all meters are calibrated to; it is incorrect to compare one blood glucose meter to another."
So have I been wasting my time?
The way things are at the moment it looks like I'll continue to use the Verio, until such time as I can satisfy myself that another meter is 'better'!
 
Yes I stated it was an older meter tested, but all the meter does is measure a tiny DC voltage from the glucose enzyme reaction, so it is the design of the strip that is the limiting factor. Unless they have improved the reliability of the strip then I expect results would be similar.
 
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