home testing unit vs lab draw

[Sagebrush]

I want to know what people think is an acceptable difference in the lab draw vs my home testing unit. I went to the lab Wednesday morning and the vampires drew my blood then ten minutes later I did my home test. Home test says 3.6 and lab draw says 2.6. The last time I tested my uniti it was year and 1/2 ago and it was only .02 difference which I find acceptable. I am going in next Tuesday to do a retest to see if the lab draw was way off.

 

[eckw]

I am on trial with Coaguchek, so far did 5 test and results are consistent, 2 times were off .1 only.

 

[Ross]

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12946

 

[Marty]

Alice is my control

Alice is my control

Instead of going through the hassle of another central lab vein draw consider using a friend who is not on anticoagulants as a control. Last Saturday my INRatio gave me INR 2.5. Was it off-.6, .2, etc. from the hospital lab? Who cares? I tested my wife Alice and she came out INR 1.1. My monitor therefore is OK.

 

[Karlynn]

Excellent idea - this will be our evening entertainment tonight. Glenn will be so thrilled.

 

[Marty]

Excellent idea - this will be our evening entertainment tonight. Glenn will be so thrilled.

Be ready for a scream when you stick him with the lancet!

 

[Ross]

Be ready for a scream when you stick him with the lancet!

Yeah, *** his toe!!!!

 

[EVELYN]

Every three months or so we check our Coaguchek with ME.....and that lancette hurts, too. If our coaguchek is right with me, we continue on.....It usually is right on, too. I certainly trust it much more than I did our Protime. Usually once a year we check with our cardio's coaguchek clinic machine and do a comparison....it's usually within .2-.4 different.....I'll take that. I don't necessarily trust lab draws, but that may be just me.

Evelyn

 

[PamO]

Mike's getting his home unit here in a few months and I like the idea of testing on me to see the comparison. But, what should someone's INR be who is NOT on Coumadin?

 

[Granbonny]

Just read this thread to Hubby .Same thing..he said, oh,no..you are not pricking my finger. ..and this is a very macho guy.. Saw me in ICU..with tubes, ect..did great....but when it comes down to my pricking his finger. No way. ..Like Pam..I think I may get him to do it..but, what should his INR show?A 1.0?....I have had my Protime from QAS for almost 4 years. NEVER any problems.He said..I will charge it for you tonight. He knows all the ropes of charging my Protime from QAs..Leave the lid up, ect..Only takes about an hour..good for 3 months. ..Bonnie

 

[Marty]

control INR

control INR

Your control should have INR close to 1, 1.1 or 1.2 probably OK.

 

[Karlynn]

I believe a person not on warfarin should test at 1.0 give or take.

Bon- I've had my ProTime for 4 years now too. I don't think my battery was ever up to par. I test weekly and only get about 5 tests per charge. At the beginning of the start up where it gives you the battery charge indicator, mine never reads above 1/2, even right after charging. That's why I started looking into getting it refurbished and decided to pursue a new INRatio. If I don't get the INRation, I'll pay the $350 to have my ProTime refurbished.

 

[Ross]

Mike's getting his home unit here in a few months and I like the idea of testing on me to see the comparison. But, what should someone's INR be who is NOT on Coumadin?

0.8 to 1.2

 

[Sagebrush]

Marty I think that is a brilliant idea...but who in my family will be the bravest...maybe the cat....hmmmmm.......thanks for all your replys. I so appreciate the time you guys take to give me imput. I will have to reply and let you guys know who was the bravest....hubby or the cat !!!

I did find out some very intersting info. If you are testing your home unit against a lab you need to find out what the % is they use in the little containers that collects your blood. My home unit has a 1% solution while the lab I was going to uses a 3.2% solution. The 1% solution is the most accurite while the 3.2% solution is not as accurite. The solution I am talking about is sodium something or the lab people call also call it ISI or something like that. So if you can find a lab that has the 1% solution it will be the truest test to if my home testing unit is good. So right now I am looking for a lab that has 1% solution.

 

[Emma]

We test on me or Jason (whichever is feeling bravest! lol) when we have a doubt about Chloes coaguchek machine, although her hospital told us not to as her machine would only be 'used to her blood'!! Who employs these people???!!!

Emma
xxx

 

[ClickerTicker]

Marty - this is a great idea. If I'd thought of it, it would have saved us some concern when we were holidaying in the Isles of Scilly and my machine was reading over 7
Investigated getting a lab draw, but that would have meant getting a small boat to the main island to visit the health centre, then having them put the sample on the helicopter to fly it to the mainland for a hospital to lab test!
Decided in the end to just stop warfarin for a day or so, checking daily, and yes it came down. Sure would have liked to have had the reassurance (and the pleasure of inflicting the pain ) of zapping my wife as a control check though!

 

[Marty]

Marty - this is a great idea. If I'd thought of it, it would have saved us some concern when we were holidaying in the Isles of Scilly and my machine was reading over 7
Investigated getting a lab draw, but that would have meant getting a small boat to the main island to visit the health centre, then having them put the sample on the helicopter to fly it to the mainland for a hospital to lab test!
Decided in the end to just stop warfarin for a day or so, checking daily, and yes it came down. Sure would have liked to have had the reassurance (and the pleasure of inflicting the pain ) of zapping my wife as a control check though!

Clicker,I'm sure your sweetie would be happy to make the sacrifice. I never go anywhere without my "control".