****:
Good points.
I don't usually test one meter against another or meters against the lab, but I'm trying to develop a confidence in my meter, so I don't need to visit the lab. It's a bit of personal research.
Once I am again comfortable with a meter, I'll only test with the meter.
(It wasn't until after my stroke that I even had the privilege of actually getting a lab blood draw. I didn't trust the first lab results because I had so much misplaced faith in my meter. This belief that my meter was accurate probably had a lot to do with my INR being too low for too long (plus, not testing for more than a week while I was below 2.0 also contributed). When Alere told me to 'trust the lab,' this opened my eyes to the possibility that the InRatio may be reporting considerably higher than lab results. (This bias may just be for my particular blood, but it might also occur with other testers).
I'd like, someday, to try the CoaguChek XS -- it's possibly closer to actual lab values.
The issue is something of a public health issue -- if clinics are using some of these meters, and believing that they're accurate, only verifying HIGH values, their patients may be running around with INRs that are too low -- possibly risking their health. I'm very interested in the Public Health aspects of anticoagulation, and am working to confirm the accuracy of the meters. This is the reason that I test with different meters. It's the reason that I compare meter values to blood tests.
ACT isn't tricky - as long as you don't overreact to minor changes and keep off the roller coaster.
However, with the low cost of home testing, and the possibility of severe problems if your INR is too low for a week or so, I still strongly believe that weekly testing is the best way to go. If that ONE TIME that your INR unexpectedly drops - and your 'unnecessary' test shows it, the life saving benefits from the 'excessive' testing will prove to be worth it.
Even though we're both in the 'two decades or more' club, I WILL agree to disagree with you on this frequency issue. (Four or five years ago, I'd have been entirely in your camp - but would have argued that even once a month was too often).
Stay healthy.
Good points.
I don't usually test one meter against another or meters against the lab, but I'm trying to develop a confidence in my meter, so I don't need to visit the lab. It's a bit of personal research.
Once I am again comfortable with a meter, I'll only test with the meter.
(It wasn't until after my stroke that I even had the privilege of actually getting a lab blood draw. I didn't trust the first lab results because I had so much misplaced faith in my meter. This belief that my meter was accurate probably had a lot to do with my INR being too low for too long (plus, not testing for more than a week while I was below 2.0 also contributed). When Alere told me to 'trust the lab,' this opened my eyes to the possibility that the InRatio may be reporting considerably higher than lab results. (This bias may just be for my particular blood, but it might also occur with other testers).
I'd like, someday, to try the CoaguChek XS -- it's possibly closer to actual lab values.
The issue is something of a public health issue -- if clinics are using some of these meters, and believing that they're accurate, only verifying HIGH values, their patients may be running around with INRs that are too low -- possibly risking their health. I'm very interested in the Public Health aspects of anticoagulation, and am working to confirm the accuracy of the meters. This is the reason that I test with different meters. It's the reason that I compare meter values to blood tests.
ACT isn't tricky - as long as you don't overreact to minor changes and keep off the roller coaster.
However, with the low cost of home testing, and the possibility of severe problems if your INR is too low for a week or so, I still strongly believe that weekly testing is the best way to go. If that ONE TIME that your INR unexpectedly drops - and your 'unnecessary' test shows it, the life saving benefits from the 'excessive' testing will prove to be worth it.
Even though we're both in the 'two decades or more' club, I WILL agree to disagree with you on this frequency issue. (Four or five years ago, I'd have been entirely in your camp - but would have argued that even once a month was too often).
Stay healthy.
