Hey, Scribe.....
Once you get the hang of it, the Coag-Sense is really pretty easy to use.
I like Pellicle's suggestion - stand with your hands by your sides while the strip warms on the meter. Personally, I've rinsed my hands with warm water, and this usually draws enough blood. I've also, occasionally, swung my arms in a propeller motion - making sure that there's room overhead. I always test standing up, but there's no real reason to do this (I test in the kitchen, and don't care about sitting down to do the test).
The new Coag-Sense only gives you 30 seconds, so you may want to wait a bit before 'standing.' OTOH, you have at least three minutes to put the blood on the strip (actually, until you put blood onto the strip, it's still good - it may last hours out of the pouch before becoming unusable). I hold the knuckle on the finger that I'll be lancing, with the thumb and forefinger of my other hand, while the strip warms up. This usually brings enough blood to the finger to fill the transfer tube.
My first attempts with the new tubes (I'm assuming that you have the new tubes with a small capillary tube and a thin black plunger) weren't especially successful until I carefully read instructions. (Being 'too smart,' I don't always RTFM).
In any case, you must get the small amount of blood collected in the tube, and deposit the blood on the strip within 15 seconds of making the incision. With a bit of practice, this will be easy to do -- maybe easier solo, because you'll have a better sense of where your fingertip is, and where the droplet is forming. If you wear glasses for close work, these may also help.
Prepare your lancing device. Get two transfer tubes ready (I take two, in case I drop one on the way to my finger or a plunger drops out because I've tilted it - it's happened....). I get a paper towel, doubled, to stop my incision from bleeding after I've gotten my drop onto the strip.
While the meter is doing the countdown with the strip warming, get the lancing device near the spot on your finger that you're going to incise. Soon after you hear the beep, incise the finger. (Again, you've got minutes to do this).You may want to squeeze a bit of blood, just to make sure the drop is large enough. Next, take the tube and hold it horizontally (not vertically -- it's easier for the tube to draw the blood sideways than it is to suck it upwards), and watch as the tube draws the blood to the white stop on the tube. If you don't have enough blood, squeeze the fingertip just a bit, and the tube will fill to the white stop. (I was told, years ago, that you can slightly pinch the incision, opening it slightly, and you'll get more blood to come out).
Place the tip of the tube in the well on the strip (there's a green light showing where to put the blood). You might put it a bit too low -- you'll feel the wheel on the strip spinning. Draw the tip of the tube back slightly, press the black plunger depositing the blood into the well on the strip, and the testing will start.
In a minute or less, the meter will show your PT and INR.
Perhaps the thing that may cause a bit of trouble for some users is trying to get the blood to flow UP into the tube - I don't know if this is what you've done - but it works well with the finger positioned so the drop is facing up and the horizontal tube just draws the blood in. This may take a bit of practice (and maybe a good pair of glasses to see what's happening), but you'll get the hang of it.
If you're still having problems, there are instructions on the coagusense.com site, and if you call support, they'll walk you through the process.
(If you have more questions about my experiences with either Coag-Sense meter (I have both models), or about the few extra strips that I've got, please feel free to send me a private message).
Once you get the hang of it, the Coag-Sense is really pretty easy to use.
I like Pellicle's suggestion - stand with your hands by your sides while the strip warms on the meter. Personally, I've rinsed my hands with warm water, and this usually draws enough blood. I've also, occasionally, swung my arms in a propeller motion - making sure that there's room overhead. I always test standing up, but there's no real reason to do this (I test in the kitchen, and don't care about sitting down to do the test).
The new Coag-Sense only gives you 30 seconds, so you may want to wait a bit before 'standing.' OTOH, you have at least three minutes to put the blood on the strip (actually, until you put blood onto the strip, it's still good - it may last hours out of the pouch before becoming unusable). I hold the knuckle on the finger that I'll be lancing, with the thumb and forefinger of my other hand, while the strip warms up. This usually brings enough blood to the finger to fill the transfer tube.
My first attempts with the new tubes (I'm assuming that you have the new tubes with a small capillary tube and a thin black plunger) weren't especially successful until I carefully read instructions. (Being 'too smart,' I don't always RTFM).
In any case, you must get the small amount of blood collected in the tube, and deposit the blood on the strip within 15 seconds of making the incision. With a bit of practice, this will be easy to do -- maybe easier solo, because you'll have a better sense of where your fingertip is, and where the droplet is forming. If you wear glasses for close work, these may also help.
Prepare your lancing device. Get two transfer tubes ready (I take two, in case I drop one on the way to my finger or a plunger drops out because I've tilted it - it's happened....). I get a paper towel, doubled, to stop my incision from bleeding after I've gotten my drop onto the strip.
While the meter is doing the countdown with the strip warming, get the lancing device near the spot on your finger that you're going to incise. Soon after you hear the beep, incise the finger. (Again, you've got minutes to do this).You may want to squeeze a bit of blood, just to make sure the drop is large enough. Next, take the tube and hold it horizontally (not vertically -- it's easier for the tube to draw the blood sideways than it is to suck it upwards), and watch as the tube draws the blood to the white stop on the tube. If you don't have enough blood, squeeze the fingertip just a bit, and the tube will fill to the white stop. (I was told, years ago, that you can slightly pinch the incision, opening it slightly, and you'll get more blood to come out).
Place the tip of the tube in the well on the strip (there's a green light showing where to put the blood). You might put it a bit too low -- you'll feel the wheel on the strip spinning. Draw the tip of the tube back slightly, press the black plunger depositing the blood into the well on the strip, and the testing will start.
In a minute or less, the meter will show your PT and INR.
Perhaps the thing that may cause a bit of trouble for some users is trying to get the blood to flow UP into the tube - I don't know if this is what you've done - but it works well with the finger positioned so the drop is facing up and the horizontal tube just draws the blood in. This may take a bit of practice (and maybe a good pair of glasses to see what's happening), but you'll get the hang of it.
If you're still having problems, there are instructions on the coagusense.com site, and if you call support, they'll walk you through the process.
(If you have more questions about my experiences with either Coag-Sense meter (I have both models), or about the few extra strips that I've got, please feel free to send me a private message).
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