EVELYN - Where are You? ProTime info needed

[ALCapshaw2]

Evelyn,

I know you and Tyce used a ProTime Anticoagulation System to moniter Tyce's INR for a long time. I was REALLY hoping you would respond to my thread asking how the ProTime Numbers compared with Lab Draw numbers. I'd like to know if ProTime is consistently on the High Side of Lab Draws, consistently on the the Low Side of Lab Draws, or (worst case) could be EITHER. I recognize that Lab Draws are NOT perfect either, but hoping to see if there is a pattern. It's not too late to reply Evelyn (or anybody who has some applicable data).

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Blanche]

Al:
Albert has been using the ProTime System since March 2001. During the first several months we did many comparison tests because our internist did not have confidence in a finger stick monitor. (Now he has his own Anticoag Clinic.) There was no pattern to the comparisons between the ProTime and the lab drawings he had. Some were higher, some were lower. Never did get the same results from lab and monitor.

Albert now tests at the lab twice a year....same story, no pattern detected.
Recently we both tested at the lab and on the ProTime. His INR was higher on the ProTime and mine was lower. I know that one swallow does not a summer make, so I would not put any confidence in this...but it is an indication. Al, I am not a stranger to research and I believe that I know what you are looking to find. However, I don't see how you can get a valid answer since there are too many variables that are not controlled.

Hope this helps,
Blanche

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Al

Sorry I didn't get back to you........just saw the thread. WOW, what a question!!!.. If I can remember waay back that long.....and checking Tyce's book, his first protime machine was consistently higher than either the cardio's coaguchek clinic or the lab draws by about .3 to .6. His second protime machine, when compared against the first was .1 to about .5 different (higher) so I really can't give you a good answer. The hospital draws were all done stat and within an hour of either our protime draw or the cardio's lab draw. I did find that the cardio's coagchek was closer to the lab draw than the protime machine was.

Sure hope it helps FWIW.

Ev

Hi Blanche!!!! We're still waiting for the new insurance to approve or disapprove the INRatio machine.....it's taking a long time IMHO. I will get back with you when and if we get it. By the time we get insurance coverage approval or buy it ourselves, who knows, Coaguchek may be back in business with the strips......HA!