INR machine...which is most state of the art? Cost?

[COLLEEN S]

I was wondering if you'd all take a sec and answer this. In your experience, what INR monitor do you feel has been the best for you? If you have used more than one, feel free to compare them for me if you would. Im excited I can home test soon. Found a doc who will treat me with self testing!!!

 

[Bina]

Colleen, Please take your advice or gain knowledge from those of us who know of what we speak.
YES, the Coaguchek XS is approved for home use.
You can buy that one or the INRatio and use either with total safety and confidence.

 

[Blanche]

Colleen s

Colleen s

Colleen: you asked for EXPERIENCE with anticoagulation monitors. I assume you mean DIRECT experience, which Al and I both have. We also have DIRECT experience with the Pro-Time Monitor, which was once the only monitor approved for home use,and DIRECT experience with the INRatio.

My husband and I both take coumadin, Al for a replaced mitral valve and me for a-fib.

We got our first monitor in 2001 from QAS. Their service was outstanding in every respect. Woody and Lance, reps for QAS surley did help us out in many ways.

We got the INRatio monitor 3 years ago. We researched it ( read the materials available) and got help from people on this board, especially Karlynn who has DIRECT experience with both the ProTime and the INRatio.

COLEEN, we chose the INRatio monitor because of information that we received here from Karlynn and other members who have DIRECT experience with both monitors....and because our doctor, who has a Coumadin Club and and DIRECT experience with the INRatio recommended it. We have the same monitor that he uses in his practice.

If we can be of any assistance, please let me know.

Blanche

 

[Eva]

Colleen, Please take your advice or gain knowledge from those of us who know of what we speak.
YES, the Coaguchek XS is approved for home use.
You can buy that one or the INRatio and use either with total safety and confidence.

Colleen,

As Bina said...Coagucheck XS is approved for home use and many of us use it...I just got mine last Saturday. My cardio uses the same machine in his office.

I have wasted three strips the first time I used it, but I think this is normal at the beginning. Next time I shall use my hubby's pricker and lancets which he uses for diabetes instead of the Coagucheck's pricker and lancets which are too fine/tiny for me.

I have not used the INR ratio to be able to compare one to the other, but I heard from other member that INR ratio requires less blood than the Coagucheck. If true, I may replace my machine to that.

I hope I am not confusing you more than helping you.

 

[catwoman]

Colleen:

I started with a ProTime 3 and moved on to an INRatio one year ago this week.
I got both monitors through QAS. United HealthCare paid 100% on the first one in 2003; Aetna paid roughly 60% on the 2nd (after usual and customary crapola knocked down the 80% DME coverage). I paid upfront for the INRatio to get the $1,000 discount offered on the machine. (That's where last year's income tax refund went!!!!!!) I filed with Aetna for reimbursement and got I think nearly $1,000 back.
If you go through insurance, QAS charges the full $2,495. (I also bought a wall charger and strips for the INRatio.)

Roche apparently does not allow vendors to offer a discount on the CoaguChek, at least QAS does not offer one.

I bought the INRatio based on recommendations of people here.
Another consideration was CoaguChek testing strips had been recalled at least once, possibly twice, in the U.S. A number of home-testers here were affected the last recall, in late 2006, for quite a few months (at least 6?? if my memory is right). However, the CoaguChek is still a very good unit. I'm sure that both are very comparable.

My ProTime 3 was still working very well. However, because I travel on weekends and have flown with my INR tester, I wanted a smaller unit, with replaceable batteries (the ProTime 3's battery is built-in), with testing strips that did not have to be refrigerated, for starters.

Getting my first monitor was like taking the ball and chain off my right leg. I was continually apologizing to my boss for having to take sick time to run to my PCP's office for an INR test.
When I learned more about warfarin and how to adjust my dosage, that took the ball and chain off my left leg.

 

[Bridgette]

Great news Colleen! I'm happy that you are now able to get this underway.
I can't compare different machines, because I have only used one - the Coaguchek XS, which I have found to be great. I'm very happy with it.
Good luck to you with your home testing.

Bridgette

 

[COLLEEN S]

If we can be of any assistance, please let me know.

Ok, I'm letting you know! Hahaha! How do I go about getting this monitor? I am starting with a new cardio on May 13, but I havent told my present one yet that I am leaving because I still need the INR done for the rest of April and beginning of May.

Do I arm myself with webpages, go to the doc and ask for a script and then contact the distributor? Or does it depend on my insurance what machine I can get? I have a DME benefit of 75% paid by insurance, but I dont know if they limit me to one monitor over the other. Can anyone help me further?
Thanks

 

[Eva]

If we can be of any assistance, please let me know.

Ok, I'm letting you know! Hahaha! How do I go about getting this monitor? I am starting with a new cardio on May 13, but I havent told my present one yet that I am leaving because I still need the INR done for the rest of April and beginning of May.

Do I arm myself with webpages, go to the doc and ask for a script and then contact the distributor? Or does it depend on my insurance what machine I can get? I have a DME benefit of 75% paid by insurance, but I dont know if they limit me to one monitor over the other. Can anyone help me further?
Thanks

I suggest you start with your insurance company. In my case, I exchanged emails and they said it would be covered. Later, I faxed to them the prescription and they approved it. It is very important to have the diagnoss code on the prescriptionThe first company (Roche) does not have a contract with my insurance and it took for ever. YET, the insurance was ready to compensate me if I bought it myself and paid for it and presented the bill to them. But I decided not to do that. Then I contacted QAS on the internet through VR Forum and they took care of everything since they are contracted by my insurance.

 

[Taysgrama]

I know when I got mine through QAS, they sent me the paperwork, I signed it and they actually sent the request to my cardio for the script. He did call me to make sure that I really understood what self testing meant and that I would still call my results in at least twice a month. He does let me correct my dose on my own since he knows that I have all these "experts" on VR.com to ask. He also knows that if I go above 4.0, I will call him to get his recommedation then I tell him what you guys have suggested and so far, we have always gone with VR.com members advice instead of his initial thoughts. I used QAS because our insurance (Anthem, BCBS) uses them as an in network provider. My insurance paid 100% for my tester....and they pay 90% for my test strips! Guess I am one of the luckier ones! By the way, I have the INRatio and that is the only one I have experience with. I love it and from what I have been told, it does take less blood to test. Good luck Colleen!!!!

 

[COLLEEN S]

Thanks for everyone who commented. I really appreciate having you all there to go to. I'll be calling the DME provider tomorrow. I got off the phone with my insurance and that is what they told me to do. But the only catch is, I have to change doctors right in the middle of all this because my gp nor my cardio will approve self testing...I feel like Wilma Flintstone.

 

[catwoman]

Thanks for everyone who commented. I really appreciate having you all there to go to. I'll be calling the DME provider tomorrow. I got off the phone with my insurance and that is what they told me to do. But the only catch is, I have to change doctors right in the middle of all this because my gp nor my cardio will approve self testing...I feel like Wilma Flintstone.

Colleen:

Have you thought of waiting until you see the new doctor? Otherwise, the new doctor will be getting forms from a DME provider for a patient he has yet to meet.
Yes, it is like Wilma Flintstone.

Good luck!

 

[COLLEEN S]

Marsha and everyone,
I got a QAS kit in the mail. I willl be going thru insurance for the machine and it seems I would like to get the coag u chek xs, although this could go either way. Thanks for all your input. My appt with the new cardio is May 13.

 

[Ross]

My vote is for either the INRatio or Coaguchek. I have the INRatio and love it. Smaller then my phone handset, simple as simple gets to use. You have kind of like Baskin Robbins, only 3 flavors instead of 31 to choose from.

 

[olefin]

I was holding back on posting for a lack of experience in home testing.

I picked the INRatio 2 from what I'd read on this forum. Sure glad I did. I also used QAS.

A trainer paid by QAS delivered my meter. She commented that she had used the same Coaguchek meter for 6 years in her job in a Cardiologist clinic. She said she tested about 2 dozen people a day.

She also commented that she liked the INRatio 2 and if I had picked the Coaquchek the training would been over twice as long. I've used my INRatio 2 eight times and have had no problems with using it and I'm an old buzzard!
I don't think they could make any meter simpler than the INRatio 2 or make one any user friendlier.

I have Medicare and Blue Cross, everything is paid including test strips for weekly testing.

Colleen, good luck with home testing... you will like it.
I should have started it 17 years ago!

 

[Bina]

I was holding back on posting for a lack of experience in home testing.

I picked the INRatio 2 from what I'd read on this forum. Sure glad I did. I also used QAS.

A trainer paid by QAS delivered my meter. She commented that she had used the same Coaguchek meter for 6 years in her job in a Cardiologist clinic. She said she tested about 2 dozen people a day.

She also commented that she liked the INRatio 2 and if I had picked the Coaquchek the training would been over twice as long. I've used my INRatio 2 eight times and have had no problems with using it and I'm an old buzzard!
I don't think they could make any meter simpler than the INRatio 2 or make one any user friendlier.

I have Medicare and Blue Cross, everything is paid including test strips for weekly testing.

Colleen, good luck with home testing... you will like it.
I should have started it 17 years ago!

Dayton, maybe your trainer was referring to the older Coaguchek model?
I have the new Coaguchek XS and it is super simple.
All quality controls are now built in and automatic, testing with one drop of blood, and it is sold in a nice zippered travel kit.

 

[zipper2]

I'm with Bina,i have the coagucheck xs Just to have your own machine
you will luv it,hope your having sucess finding one for your use.
I repeat you will luv it and the freedom and control in your life.
Good luck with this,keep us posted

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[lance]

Spouse learned to ..................

Spouse learned to ..................

use my "XS" by watching me and now tests weekly.
As Ross said about his Protime the XS is as simple as simple gets gets--such an improvement over the old "S".
You will be very happy with whatever unit you choose. They're all excellent.
Cheers

 

[olefin]

Dayton, maybe your trainer was referring to the older Coaguchek model?
I have the new Coagulate XS and it is super simple.
All quality controls are now built in and automatic, testing with one drop of blood, and it is sold in a nice zippered travel kit.

Bina, her personal Coaguchek model was older but she does provide training for both meters for QAS. Just repeating what she had commented. I'm sure the new models are more user friendly than the one she uses.

 

[COLLEEN S]

I was holding back on posting for a lack of experience in home testing.

I picked the INRatio 2 from what I'd read on this forum. Sure glad I did. I also used QAS.

A trainer paid by QAS delivered my meter. She commented that she had used the same Coaguchek meter for 6 years in her job in a Cardiologist clinic. She said she tested about 2 dozen people a day.

She also commented that she liked the INRatio 2 and if I had picked the Coaquchek the training would been over twice as long. I've used my INRatio 2 eight times and have had no problems with using it and I'm an old buzzard!
I don't think they could make any meter simpler than the INRatio 2 or make one any user friendlier.

I have Medicare and Blue Cross, everything is paid including test strips for weekly testing.

Colleen, good luck with home testing... you will like it.
I should have started it 17 years ago!

thanks for this! I was leaning toward the coaguchek xs but now am leaning toward the inratio 2. What is the cost of inratio 2 assuming one goes thru their insurance?

 

[Ross]

thanks for this! I was leaning toward the coaguchek xs but now am leaning toward the inratio 2. What is the cost of inratio 2 assuming one goes thru their insurance?

It just depends on what supplier you get it from.