Lancets

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Sean & Rufus

Sean & Rufus

Member Since 2018
Sorry for all the questions, just did first home test today. I have the Aplha Trak2 and the replacement lancets are $21 for 100 on Amazon. Is there a cheaper alternative out there that is recommended? Generic lancet for use in Alpha or a whole different lancet?

Thanks!
 
I do not use the device. I hold the lancet in my hand and poke. So, I do not know if you would have to have a certain one to fit in that device. Sorry.
 
I know that the FreeStyle lancets are exactly the same as the AlphaTrak lancets (came company makes them), but they will not be the cheapest option for you.
 
Freestyle branded lancets are identical to the Alphatrak ones. I've used both with my Alphatrak lancing device. In the UK on eBay you can get 200 Freestyle lancets for £10 vs. only 100 Alphatrak lancets for £20!!! :eek: Daylight robbery.

I have very shaky hands so I insert the lancet into the device to make it easier for me to manoeuvre but I freehand the actual poke itself (i.e. I don't press the button).

At a guess (and it is only a guess) if a generic lancet is compatible with the Freestyle lancing device then presumably it should also fit the Alphatrak lancing device? If yes, then if you search on eBay or Amazon for 28G lancets compatible with Freestyle you should hopefully find lancets at a much better price. Maybe these:

These are supposed to be compatible with the Freestyle:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-28g-F...hash=item489760397a:m:mq3k6H7JDvFX6u2xDCwECGg

Just had a look on Amazon.com and found these ones that look exactly the same as the ones above (one reviewer says they are Freestyle-compatible):

https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Top-Lancets-28G-Count/dp/B00ZSL71GM/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516222454&sr=8-8&keywords=freestyle lancets 28 gauge

$8.99 for 400 lancets (can't see how much the shipping costs are).

If you do find a good deal on 28g Alphatrak compatible lancets it'd be great if you could share the details here.


Mogs
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Critter Mom said:
Freestyle branded lancets are identical to the Alphatrak ones. I've used both with my Alphatrak lancing device. In the UK on eBay you can get 200 Freestyle lancets for £10 vs. only 100 Alphatrak lancets for £20!!! :eek: Daylight robbery.

I have very shaky hands so I insert the lancet into the device to make it easier for me to manoeuvre but I freehand the actual poke itself (i.e. I don't press the button).

At a guess (and it is only a guess) if a generic lancet is compatible with the Freestyle lancing device then presumably it should also fit the Alphatrak lancing device? If yes, then if you search on eBay or Amazon for 28G lancets compatible with Freestyle you should hopefully find lancets at a much better price. Maybe these:

These are supposed to be compatible with the Freestyle:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-28g-F...hash=item489760397a:m:mq3k6H7JDvFX6u2xDCwECGg

Just had a look on Amazon.com and found these ones that look exactly the same as the ones above (one reviewer says they are Freestyle-compatible):

https://www.amazon.com/Twist-Top-Lancets-28G-Count/dp/B00ZSL71GM/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516222454&sr=8-8&keywords=freestyle lancets 28 gauge

$8.99 for 400 lancets (can't see how much the shipping costs are).

If you do find a good deal on 28g Alphatrak compatible lancets it'd be great if you could share the details here.


Mogs
.
Click to expand...
That last one 400 for 8.99 with free prime shipping!! Wow! Just wish there were more reviews. Almost too good of a price, hate for them to hurt Rufus if the quality isn't there. I'm going to Walmart tomorrow to see what they have. It's such a shame that it appears same products with different names aimed at humans vs pets and charging double the price. So wrong. I'll update with any info I find!
 
Sometimes using a smaller gauge needle will not give you the sample size you need for the meter. Cats ears, while they can amazingly be "trained" to bleed (TRUE STORY!), don't have the same network of capillaries and bleeding bits that human fingers do. Many people, myself included, use a larger 26-28 gauge lancet. I had zero luck with the 33 gauge sticks that came with our device, but since switching it is rare that I am unable to get a sample.
 
Ah guys. I tried 15 times tonight to get blood. 15 times. He doesn't get bothered at fist, but by 10 he's not having it. I'm aiming for the sweet spot or so I think. This morning took quite a few times but I hit the main capillaries and finally got a good bit. Am I to aim for that from now on?
 
S&R said:
Ah guys. I tried 15 times tonight to get blood. 15 times. He doesn't get bothered at fist, but by 10 he's not having it. I'm aiming for the sweet spot or so I think. This morning took quite a few times but I hit the main capillaries and finally got a good bit. Am I to aim for that from now on?
Click to expand...
Try warming the ear for a really long time before trying the pokes. Make sure the bevel on the lancet is facing upwards and keep the lancet at an angle of about 45 degrees to the ear when doing the poke (much easier to do when freehanding).

When I first started learning to test I was really afraid of hurting Saoirse's ears when trying to warm them and I didn't warm them enough. Consequently my hit rate was nothing to write home about. I started warming the ear for longer and my success rate improved astronomically. I was actually really surprised at how long I had to warm Saoirse's ear for in the early days. I also noticed that her ears needed warming for a longer time in the winter months.


Mogs
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Critter Mom said:
Try warming the ear for a really long time before trying the pokes. Make sure the bevel on the lancet is facing upwards and keep it at an angle of about 45 degrees to the ear when doing the poke (much easier to do when freehanding).

When I first started learning to test I was really afraid of hurting Saoirse's ears when trying to warm them and I didn't warm them enough. Consequently my hit rate was nothing to write home about. I started warming the ear for longer and my success rate improved astronomically. I was actually really surprised at how long I had to warm Saoirse's ear for in the early days. I also noticed that her ears needed warming for a longer time in the winter months.


Mogs
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How do you warm them? I was rubbing them a bit, but he was like what the heck you doing? I was definitely going straight down so I'll try it at an angle! I didn't get the chance to get his numbers, but seeing at how bad they were earlier I highly doubt there would be any issues shooting him.
 
S&R said:
Ah guys. I tried 15 times tonight to get blood. 15 times. He doesn't get bothered at fist, but by 10 he's not having it. I'm aiming for the sweet spot or so I think. This morning took quite a few times but I hit the main capillaries and finally got a good bit. Am I to aim for that from now on?
Click to expand...
Don't be afraid to poke all the way through. Are you using 26-28 gauge lancets?
 
S&R said:
How do you warm them? I was rubbing them a bit, but he was like what the heck you doing? I was definitely going straight down so I'll try it at an angle! I didn't get the chance to get his numbers, but seeing at how bad they were earlier I highly doubt there would be any issues shooting him.
Click to expand...
First smear a very thin film of Vaseline over the test site on the ear (helps the sample bead up nicely).

Get your meter and lancet ready to go.

Try putting some uncooked rice into a small sock and warm that in the microwave until it is toasty warm but not 'hot hot' to your own hands.

Pop a cotton pad or a 1" strip of folded kitchen paper under the ear to support it and massage the test area with the warmed rice sock for a fairly reasonable amount of time.

When ready to test, take away the rice sock and make sure the ear is really warm at the test site. Aim the angled lancet about 1mm in from the edge of the ear to do the poke.


Mogs
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S&R said:
I'm using the 28 gauge that came with the Alpha Trak. I have it on setting 5
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Try taking the clear cap off the lancing device so that you can just see the lancet. It's much easier to poke in the right area without the cap because you can see exactly where the tip of the lancet is aiming.

Safety note: Move your hand to do the poke - the motion's a bit like pricking a balloon - and DON'T press the click button (otherwise you might end up sending the lancet itself flying across the room).


Mogs
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Critter Mom said:
First smear a very thin film of Vaseline over the test site on the ear (helps the sample bead up nicely).

Get your meter and lancet ready to go.

Try putting some uncooked rice into a small sock and warm that in the microwave until it is toasty warm but not 'hot hot' to your own hands.

Pop a cotton pad or a 1" strip of folded kitchen paper under the ear to support it and massage the test area with the warmed rice sock.

When ready to test, take away the rice sock and make sure the ear is really warm at the test site. Aim the angled lancet about 1mm in from the edge of the ear to do the poke.


Mogs
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Click to expand...
Great tips thanks so much! I'll try again in the am.
 
Another tip:

Wrap the ear support and the ear itself around your index finger and hold it in place with the thumb and middle finger. This creates a little tension in the skin along the edge of the ear and that makes it easier to break the surface of the skin with the lancet. It also helps bring the blood easily to the surface (less likely to need to 'milk' the sample out of the ear).

Having a firm but gentle grip on the ear like this also helps to keep the kitty's head still after the poke instead of shaking its head and sending your hard-won blood sample into orbit. :rolleyes:


Mogs
 
S&R said:
I'm using the 28 gauge that came with the Alpha Trak. I have it on setting 5.
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Skip the device. Hold the Lancet in your hand. Put a cotton round or folded paper towel behind. Poke all the way through with determination. Then milk the areas next to where you poked to gently squeeze the drop out.
 
JanetNJ said:
Skip the device. Hold the Lancet in your hand. Put a cotton round or folded paper towel behind. Poke all the way through with determination. Then milk the areas next to where you poked to gently squeeze the drop out.
Click to expand...
Ugh I don't know about poking on my own. I'm a wimp.
 
S&R said:
Ugh I don't know about poking on my own. I'm a wimp.
Click to expand...
Know what you mean. :)

My hands are a bit shaky so, although I freehand the poke itself, I find having the lancet held in the device makes it easier for me to hold steadier (plus you don't feel the actual prick as much, if at all!).


Mogs
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Not trying to hijack the thread, but seeing if I have a good understanding of what can (and can't) be done with the AT2 to lower the recurring (strips and Lancet) price based on what I've read above, and on other threads. If I go with an AT2 meter, once I use whatever strips/lancets come with the starter pack, I can safely switch to:

  • Freestyle test strips
  • most any generic 28G lancet (assuming compatibility)

and expect similar (within an acceptable percentage) performance/results from the AT2? The AT2 costs are just ridiculous - about $105.00 every 3.5 weeks just for the strips. If I get their lancets, it goes up to about $125.00. Wal-Mart/Relion runs about $38.00 for the same 3.5 week period. But the AT2 monitor with Freestyle strips (and generic lancets) looks to run about $57.00 per 3.5 weeks. Not as affordable as Wal-mart, but it has the advantage of using an actual pet/feline monitor.

Note - I chose 3.5 weeks as, with 100 strips/lancets at 4 tests a day, I'll need to refill approximately every 3.5 weeks (every 25 days) - based on refilling every 3.5 weeks, approximate annual costs (based on pricing I see online) certainly vary:
  • Wal-mart/Relion - $540.00
  • AT2 - $1750.00
  • Advocate Pet Tester - $1010.00
  • AT2 with Freestyle Lite/Generic Lancets - $800.00
 
LestatsDad said:
Not trying to hijack the thread, but seeing if I have a good understanding of what can (and can't) be done with the AT2 to lower the recurring (strips and Lancet) price based on what I've read above, and on other threads. If I go with an AT2 meter, once I use whatever strips/lancets come with the starter pack, I can safely switch to:

  • Freestyle test strips
  • most any generic 28G lancet (assuming compatibility)

and expect similar (within an acceptable percentage) performance/results from the AT2? The AT2 costs are just ridiculous - about $105.00 every 3.5 weeks just for the strips. If I get their lancets, it goes up to about $125.00. Wal-Mart/Relion runs about $38.00 for the same 3.5 week period. But the AT2 monitor with Freestyle strips (and generic lancets) looks to run about $57.00 per 3.5 weeks. Not as affordable as Wal-mart, but it has the advantage of using an actual pet/feline monitor.

Note - I chose 3.5 weeks as, with 100 strips/lancets at 4 tests a day, I'll need to refill approximately every 3.5 weeks (every 25 days) - based on refilling every 3.5 weeks, approximate annual costs (based on pricing I see online) certainly vary:
  • Wal-mart/Relion - $540.00
  • AT2 - $1750.00
  • Advocate Pet Tester - $1010.00
  • AT2 with Freestyle Lite/Generic Lancets - $800.00
Click to expand...
I can't comment on using freestyle strips, but I did read that could be done if you code them right. I'm not at that point yet to even try, I'm still a newbie. I do know that the ReliOn lancets fit in the Alpha Trak/Freestyle lancet device. They are $2.52 for 200! They are 30 gauge, but seems to be perfect for me.
 
Sean & Rufus said:
I can't comment on using freestyle strips, but I did read that could be done if you code them right. I'm not at that point yet to even try, I'm still a newbie. I do know that the ReliOn lancets fit in the Alpha Trak/Freestyle lancet device. They are $2.52 for 200! They are 30 gauge, but seems to be perfect for me.
Click to expand...

I'm a complete noob too - but looking into this after Lestat gave us a hypoglycemic scare the other night. Nice to know about Relion lancets fitting the AT device! Thanks for the info! I haven't even gotten a meter yet - just in the process of what the best option (accuracy and affordability) is.
 
I hear you on the costs! Wow! My vet was adament about buying and using a pet meter, so I got the Alpha Trak2. Works awesome, but the cost is out of control. I think my new plan is to have 2 meters. The main meter, probably a ReliOn for day to day tests and curves, and use the Alpha Trak2 sporadically to show the vet numbers.
 
The Relion lances I am using for my cat say "26 gauge for alternative sites". They seem to work fine for my cat, but he's not a good bleeder -- I have to heat his ears up to the point where the margin vein is engorged before I can get any blood out of them. If you don't already have a lancing device, the Relion one you buy separately seems to be working for me with the clear cover. But this is a personal preference and the Freestyle lancet device with the clear cover may work better for you.
 
LestatsDad said:
Nice to know about Relion lancets fitting the AT device! Thanks for the info! I haven't even gotten a meter yet - just in the process of what the best option (accuracy and affordability) is.
Click to expand...
Tip: When you're starting out it's much easier to get a blood sample with 28 gauge lancets. :)

Badtux's tip about really warming the ear is a good one, too.


Mogs
.
 
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