ProTime v. Coagucheck?

[JimChicago]

I'm going to try to find a doctor who'l write me a prescription for home testing. It seems like the only two viable options are the Protime or coagucheck now. I wonder how the different units compare as to:

1. Controls - I've heard it said that the Protime does it's own controls whereas the Coagucheck needs to run a couple tests to be calibrated. How often dies the coagucheck have to be calibrated? How hard/costly is it do do?

2. Amount of blood required - reading posts here it seems like the Coagucheck requires less blood to run the test. Is this still true? Also some posts say the protime test has to be done within so many seconds or something - is that a further complication?

3. cost of supplies - some posts seem to imply it cost less for the test strips etc for the coagucheck. I'm not sure my insurance will cover it so if I have to pay myself that'll be a big consideration. Will I need to get a new prescription each year to get supplies for the testing machine?

4. Cost of batery replacement - I believe I saw some posts that said the coagucheck uses AA batteries whereas the protime has a special battery. Is that true?

Thanks for your input,
Jim

 

[Marty]

Love my Coaguchek

Love my Coaguchek

Jim, I've had the Coaguchek for over 5 years.It is durable and trustworthy.
1. Controls. The FDA says a high and low control should be done with each test. I do controls only when I get a new box of strips.
2. The strips require one drop of blood. I use a capillary tube to suck up the blood from my finger and then squirt it right on the spot on the test strip. Most people are better coordinated than I am and can go right from finger to strip.
3. current price per strip $6.00
4. Coaguchek uses AA batteries. Mine has not needed new batteries in over three years. Unit doesn't draw much juice.
5.Your doctor must write you a prescription to purchase the Coaguchek. He must also arrange for training. Then I think a permanent "refill" can be prescribed and you can purchase your supplies directly from Roche.

 

[Guest]

Contact QAS Services. They are now selling all four types of testers. There may be another that suits you better, Jim

 

[JimL]

Do contact QAS, since they are very helpful. Lance may be able to help you understand the differences (which seem to be very minor) between the four different kinds of units.

I would wonder if it might be possible to see the various units before purchasing, perhaps visiting various coumadin clinics that have different units. Perhaps in the Chicago area you could find several clinics. Just a thought.

 

[Marty]

Finger Blood Sampling

Finger Blood Sampling

Jim, In order to get the blood sample from your finger you need some type of lancet. I use the Tenderlett device purchased from QAS. It does a shallow slice rather than a puncture which doesn't hurt as much and bleeds nicely. The lancet which some patients prefer is the Softclix which can be obtained from Roche.

QAS also has the franchise for two monitors new on the market, the Lifescan and the Hemosense. I have no experience with them but it wouldn't hurt to check them out.

 

[rcatalano]

Lifescan Harmony

Lifescan Harmony

I just had a training session at my cardiologists office on the Lifescan Harmony unit. I don't know much about the others, though I think they are using ProTime units in the office.

From what I was told, its an expensive unit. The test strips are $25, but they don't need refrigeration. There are 5 strips per bottle. Once opened, the bottle has a 90 day shelf life. Strips are light sensitive, so they are stored in an opaque bottle.

The unit itself does not need calibration. Each test strip takes care of doing the 2 control tests, and the unit QC's itself. Wish I could describe this better, but I don't have much experience with this stuff.

Each test only requires 1 drop of blood.

They gave me a loaner unit, we'll see if my insurance will cover this thing or not. I start testing this Sunday, and will email results to my cardiologist.

Rob Catalano

AVR - ATS Medical Mechanical 8/03
AVR - homograft 4/89

 

[Guest]

Keep us posted on how it works out.

I just saw this unit demonstrated for the first time in May and do not know anyone who is using it.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Jim,

By now you may have received my response. If you have any additional questions....would be happy to help.

Marty is an expert. He was of great assistance during my decision process!

All the best! Hope to see you at the reunion!

 

[rcatalano]

Al,

I'll let you know how this works out. Too bad I don't have experience with the other units to compare it to, but it seems to address some complaints about them.

Rob

 

[Marty]

$25 TEST STRIP???!!!

$25 TEST STRIP???!!!

Rob, Before you buy I would recommend that you look over the Coaguchek and the Protime. Lance is sending me all the info that he has on Hemosense and Lifescan and I will have a chance to evaluate them. However the test strips for Coaguchek are only six dollars. Each Protime test I believe is much less than $25. This difference would add up over a year where you might test as often as every week and as little as every 3-4 weeks. Lance at QAS now has the franchise for all four units plus he helps with insurance ,Medicare and other paper work. If you pay cash he can discount 25-30%. He can train you over the phone for all the units but Coaguchek which still requires face-to -face training.

 

[Guest]

CoaguChek has reported some manufacturing difficulties with their strips.

Go to www.coaguchek.com to see what they are recommending for selftesting.

So far I have found no problems with mine at work.

 

[JimChicago]

Here's a direct link to an article on Coaguchek's website re recall - somehow I can't access it (get error message 'unable to open embedded font' ) -
at:

Broken link-Ross

In looking at some internet sites I see some selling a QC quality control chip for 300-350 for the Coaguchek that I wonder whether it is to replace the need for calibration tests?

 

[Marty]

Coaguchek Strips

Coaguchek Strips

I received two registered letters to check my last box of strips- they were OK. The problem was not in the test strips themselves but in their individual tinfoil packaging. I've heard nothing about a new chip. My last Coaguchek INR was 3.6 and the central lab was 3.7. The central lab is getting better.

 

[Guest]

I ran a bunch of checks on my testers at work and there was no problem.

 

[Ross]

Since JimChicago's link doesn't work, here is the PDF of the 9/30/03 recall notice.

 

[conk]

CoaguCheck or other???

CoaguCheck or other???

I am very interested in home INR testing. My Cardiologist?s office uses a CoaguCheck device. I?m interested in using the same device at home, so I do not have to compare a different device results with that of the Office CoaguCheck results. When I went to the QAS website, only the ProTime system is shown. Do you have to talk with them over the phone to get information about the other INR test units they could provide? I would think that this information would be on their website. Some of the posts I?ve read indicate that can provide any of four different devices including the CoaguCheck. Should there be a significant concern about the recent recall on CoaguCheck Test Strips? Should I query my Drs. Office about any steps they have taken since they use the CoaguCheck device and associated strips?

I?m also interested in having insurance cover the device if this is possible. Has anyone heard of Aetna ever covering any of the INR home testing units? Both my wife and I are covered under both of our work medical by Aetna PPO coverage.

Jim...since you are the one that posted the original question concerning the comparison of the CoaguCheck with the Pro Time, I would be very interested any results that you find.

 

[Guest]

If you can't find Coaguchek on QAS, look at www.coaguchek.com

 

[rcatalano]

Aetna PPO

Aetna PPO

Conk,

I have Aetna PPO also. My cardiologist wrote a prescription for a home testing unit, now I'm waiting to see if Aetna will cover it.

I know if you call QAS, they will help you thru the process, even sending all the forms you will need.

I've heard it could take 4 to 6 weeks to get a decision from the insurance company - its only been about a week for me.

The way my cardiologist wants to work it, is I would test weekly at home and email the results to his office. If things are out of range, I would call them for instructions. If my readings are pretty stable, I would still go to the office about every 2 months.

Rob

 

[tommy]

I can add just a little to Marty's posts - he summed up the Roche system very well.

1. They do tell you to use the two "controls" every time you check your blood. I follow that instruction except in cases that I need to take multiple readings within a week.

2. The lancet that comes with the kit wasn't deep enough for my skin. The Roche rep "comped" me some others (shhhhhhh, don't tell anyone), They work well.

3. The recall was one batch of strips that got perferated in the wrong place. They have excellent lot control. None of my strips were effected. But their lead time shot out from one week to three weeks (temporarily).

4. I found that the home systems costs me more than going to the coumadin clinic. That's largely and insurance issue. In my plan, doctor's visits get covered 90%, the home kit is 70% with deductible. For me, the convenience is well worth it.

5. When I started, Roche instructions required that the controls and strips that shipped together, be used together. That caused some waste when I would have poor technique. They have backed off requirement. The shelf life is a year or more and you no longer have to "match" the supplies. But you have to take the controls and the strips, you can't just order one or the other.

 

[conk]

Tom/Rob,

Tom/Rob,

Thanks for the information. I have contacted QAS and they are checking with Aetna to determine in general what type of coverage?s I have, then I think they will estimate based on this information what might be covered and we will go from there.

I was bit surprised at the cost from QAS depending on if you went through insurance or not. They will offer a much-reduced rate for outright purchase (with prescription of course). Although I thought I had seen on a website that the cost was about $1250, however QAS quoted something around $2K.

I just did some searching and found the Coagucheck S unit that is for both self-testing and professional use and has a chip like the professional units out there now that don't need to be calibrated with control test strips with each use. The website where I saw this unit is below:

http://www.polymed.ca/english/coagu.html

Rob... Good luck with your insurance. Let me know what they say since I have the same provider.

Thanks...Conk