I actually use the AT meter with Freestyle human strips, as they are half price the pet ones. Every time I get a new package I measure the variance using the control substance, and than I add or subtract from the results that variation. Also I have a package of pet strips that lasts for many months, as I only use to compare in case I get an unusual result. So far the method works very well. Indeed the AT are enormously expensive. I live in Canada, and the Freestyle human strips are I think the cheapest we can get.