jimbo
Active member
Hello all. I'm going to be buying a INR machine in the the next couple of months. What should I look for and what brands? Thank you.
Selecting a INR machine
- Thread starter jimbo
- Start date
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
Jim, you may want to check into any insurance coverage that you may have before you commit to a brand. I have the Coaguchek XS and another good machine is the INRatio.
jimbo
Active member
Thanks Bina. I'll be getting a INR machine probably without insurance so I can pick whatever machine is the best. I've heard that some even check for a minor stroke or resistance through the valve. Is that true? Thanks again. Jim
AVR with a St. Judes Mechanical on 4-20-2007 and feeling great.
AVR with a St. Judes Mechanical on 4-20-2007 and feeling great.
The home monitor that does ultra sound to check valve resistance is not available in America yet....Germany will test it for a few more years.
G
geebee
Jim,
I don't think you can go wrong with either the INRatio or the Coagucheck XS. I would look into whichever will be a lesser expense for you.
I have the INRatio and love it.
I don't think you can go wrong with either the INRatio or the Coagucheck XS. I would look into whichever will be a lesser expense for you.
I have the INRatio and love it.
jimbo
Active member
Thank you GEEBEE. I meet with ny cardio tomorrow and he said he would write me a letter to "hopefully" have my work cover it. If not I'll buy one anyway. Thanks again
K
Karlynn
I agree with Gina. Either one and you're going to be happy. I have the INRatio for over a year and love it. Prior to that I had the ProTime. While I was happy to have it - the INRatio is so much easier. And I believe the Coaguchek XS is very similar to the INRatio.
Well, I agree with Gina and Karlynn. My husband and I both test. In late September we got the INRatio. We are just thrilled with the new monitor. It is very user friendly and only takes 15 minutes for us both to test.
We got our first monitor, the ProTime Microcoagulation System, in 2001. It was a good monitor, but the batteries are self-contained. When they wore out, we decided to try a different monitor.
Like you, we purchased the monitor with our own funds. We also pay for the test strips. If you can get your insurance to pay for this, that's the way to go. We have never regretted purchasing out own monitor, but it does get expensive. Still, the peace of mind that it gives us is priceless.
Blanche
We got our first monitor, the ProTime Microcoagulation System, in 2001. It was a good monitor, but the batteries are self-contained. When they wore out, we decided to try a different monitor.
Like you, we purchased the monitor with our own funds. We also pay for the test strips. If you can get your insurance to pay for this, that's the way to go. We have never regretted purchasing out own monitor, but it does get expensive. Still, the peace of mind that it gives us is priceless.
Blanche
just1gary
Member
INRatio
INRatio
I've been using INRatio for 14 months and have been testing myself every other week.
PROs: Easy to use, nice large screen letters, still using the same original batteries, not sure how much memory is in the INRatio but it is still keeping all of my original INR numbers from November 2006. Have not experienced any self test failures. The only problem I have run into is not putting enough blood in the well and that was operator error.
CONs: I can't think of any cons it's just great being able to test at home.
Thoughts: It would be nice if it was a bit smaller and if the screen could show more information during the analysis of the blood. Being an engineer I would like to see when each channel test is completed in lieu of the hour glass, not that I could do anything but it would be nice. Every once in a while I keep thinking that the test is invalid after several minutes have passed.
INRatio
I've been using INRatio for 14 months and have been testing myself every other week.
PROs: Easy to use, nice large screen letters, still using the same original batteries, not sure how much memory is in the INRatio but it is still keeping all of my original INR numbers from November 2006. Have not experienced any self test failures. The only problem I have run into is not putting enough blood in the well and that was operator error.
CONs: I can't think of any cons it's just great being able to test at home.
Thoughts: It would be nice if it was a bit smaller and if the screen could show more information during the analysis of the blood. Being an engineer I would like to see when each channel test is completed in lieu of the hour glass, not that I could do anything but it would be nice. Every once in a while I keep thinking that the test is invalid after several minutes have passed.
C
ClickerTicker
I have had my CoaguChek XS for a few months now, prior to that I had the CoaguChek S. The XS is great, very compact - even the strips are small and 24 fit into the small tube carried in the case.
The whole thing is in a carry case approx 5.5in x 6.5in x 2in - really easy to carry about. It's purely battery powered so no mains adapter needed. The case carries the tester, strips, finger pricker, lancets and user guide.
Only cons I can think of are
1) it won't let you test if the temperature is less than 18 deg C (64 deg F)
2) lancets supplied are shaped like a small blade rather than a small needle - took me a lot longer to stop bleeding. Luckily these are a standard item and needle shaped ones (my old S ones fitted) are easily available.
The whole thing is in a carry case approx 5.5in x 6.5in x 2in - really easy to carry about. It's purely battery powered so no mains adapter needed. The case carries the tester, strips, finger pricker, lancets and user guide.
Only cons I can think of are
1) it won't let you test if the temperature is less than 18 deg C (64 deg F)
2) lancets supplied are shaped like a small blade rather than a small needle - took me a lot longer to stop bleeding. Luckily these are a standard item and needle shaped ones (my old S ones fitted) are easily available.
Clicker, what number is your lancet set on? You may want to try lowering the setting.ClickerTicker said:
My INR is always 2.4-3.6 and my lancet is set on 3.5
After I test myself, I hold a tissue on for a minute, or put on a bandaid, and have no bleeding.
K
Karlynn
Or he can just go to the drugstore and get a regular lancet - no Rx needed.
My old ProTime had a built in lancet into the collection device called a 'cuvette'. It was more of a slice, than a needle stick and it did bleed more than my regular lancet I use for my INRatio.
My old ProTime had a built in lancet into the collection device called a 'cuvette'. It was more of a slice, than a needle stick and it did bleed more than my regular lancet I use for my INRatio.
Philip B
Well-known member
Monitor
Monitor
Hey Jim,
I've been using an INratio monitor since last summer. It's been great. I test on a weekly basis. Tests are quick and easy. It sure beats the heck out of having the lab techs dig holes in your arms.
Hopefully, you'll be able to get your insurance to pay for your monitor. My wife and I battled our insurance company for months before they were willing to reimburse us for the cost of my machine.
-Philip
Monitor
Hey Jim,
I've been using an INratio monitor since last summer. It's been great. I test on a weekly basis. Tests are quick and easy. It sure beats the heck out of having the lab techs dig holes in your arms.
Hopefully, you'll be able to get your insurance to pay for your monitor. My wife and I battled our insurance company for months before they were willing to reimburse us for the cost of my machine.
-Philip
F
frank10b
How is the Coaguceck S by Roche? Is it wort it to buy one? What about this 30 percent error rate I hear about is this a comcern?
Frank, if you are interested in the Coaguchek make sure to buy the new model, the XS.frank10b said:
It is very sophisticated and accurate. There is NO 30% error rate.
Maybe you are thinking of a maximum .3 possible variation on INR readings.?
All quality controls are built into the machine. The strips also have a quality control computer chip. Here in Canada the machine is $995.00 and I called a rep and got a discount coupon for $500.
C
ClickerTicker
Bina,Bina said:
With my CoaguChek S I used 28G (0.4mm) lancets with the pen setting at 3.5. Found with the blade shaped lancets supplied with the XS I got less bleeding set at 3.0, but blood drop formation was unreliable. Have ditched the yellow blade type lancets and use the white 28G needle shaped ones. My quacks dispense those in a box of 200 at no cost to me.
Frank, the "30% error" thing is hogwash... with that sort of error quite a number of us would be dead by now
These meters are by and large pretty accurate - and the XS has built in self-test on each strip. Having said that, with any brand of self-tester, it's advisable to get a venous blood draw at a lab periodically - just to be sure some sort of error, human or otherwise, hasn't crept in. I try to have one at least every 6 months - the result has never been more than a few percent different.
Marty
Well-known member
I have used INRatio three years now. It is easy to use, reliable, and accurate.If there are questions you can talk to company support day or night including weekends. At my annual physical each year I get a lab blood draw and it is always close to the INRatio.
K
Karlynn
frank10b said:
Where have you heard this? I doubt that home testing would be practiced if the error rate was 30%.
I can't remember the last time I had a lab draw. I test twice a year at my doctor's office when I go in for my 6 mo. check. But she uses an INRatio as well. Wait - I think she does send a tube of blood in for it, but I've never heard back on an INR from it.
F
frank10b
I was looking into a used coagulchek "S" for 200.00 USD. But I read that there is an FDA advisory on this moniter because of a posible 30 % error rate.
K
Karlynn
Strips were recalled for the 'S' last year and unavailable for many months. That may be what the 30% error is referring to. It is definitely not an issue with all machines.
