- 8,470
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
I use two meters, an SD Codefree (calibrated to Plasma) and an Abbott NEO (calibrated for wholeblood). For 12 months now the Codefree has consitently measured 12% higher than the NEO due to the calibration ranges issue, but they do track each other quite well when averaged. The only time I ever got the NEO to read close to the Codefree, it was a misread.
I have just changed to a new pak of test strips in the NEO, but the Codefree is using the same batch as last week. I have noted today that my readings have jumped by 2 mmol/l/ My weeky average was 5,0 using the old strips, and the last day averaged out to 5.2 Yesterday my NEO gave me results same as the Codefree, and the daily average has jumped to 7.4. but my Codefree average renains much the same as the week before (7.5) So it is definitely the NEO that has changed.
Looking at the error allowance for a reading of 5.0 mmol/l, then the meter could read +/- 0.75 so a worst case tolerance problem could see a jump of 1.5 max but I am registering a jump of 2.2. So my NEO with these new strips is outside the allowed specification.
I am going to go back to Abbott to see if this is a 'known' problem, or a rogue batch. I will report here what they say when I ring on Monday. Last time I had this problem, the Pharmacy refused to replace the batch, and Abbott sent me a calibration fluid, which of course passed since the limits are that vague a Double Decker bus would pass. So I lost £28 that time. This time I am GP funded so I will have to live with the raised bgl for a month, My spreadsheet can be programmed to compensate so its no worry so long as I remember to remove the fiddle factor on next strip change.
I have just changed to a new pak of test strips in the NEO, but the Codefree is using the same batch as last week. I have noted today that my readings have jumped by 2 mmol/l/ My weeky average was 5,0 using the old strips, and the last day averaged out to 5.2 Yesterday my NEO gave me results same as the Codefree, and the daily average has jumped to 7.4. but my Codefree average renains much the same as the week before (7.5) So it is definitely the NEO that has changed.
Looking at the error allowance for a reading of 5.0 mmol/l, then the meter could read +/- 0.75 so a worst case tolerance problem could see a jump of 1.5 max but I am registering a jump of 2.2. So my NEO with these new strips is outside the allowed specification.
I am going to go back to Abbott to see if this is a 'known' problem, or a rogue batch. I will report here what they say when I ring on Monday. Last time I had this problem, the Pharmacy refused to replace the batch, and Abbott sent me a calibration fluid, which of course passed since the limits are that vague a Double Decker bus would pass. So I lost £28 that time. This time I am GP funded so I will have to live with the raised bgl for a month, My spreadsheet can be programmed to compensate so its no worry so long as I remember to remove the fiddle factor on next strip change.