AlphaTrak 3 refill test strip question

[soreto]

Every new bottle of refills test strips comes with a 'Code strip' taped to the top of the bottle. The instructions say I need to insert this every time I use a new bottle of strips. I did not do this for my last bottle. Does this actually matter? What is the point of it?

 

[Laurie&Petey]

I don’t know if it matters but when I insert it I see the cat is flashing so I hit the button once to confirm I am using for a cat.

 

[Bridget and Guppy]

I did it for the first and second, but haven't since. As long as the code pops up that's for cat calibration when you insert a test strip you're good. I do test one of the strips with the control solution for every new bottle though

 

[soreto]

@Laurie&Petey @GuppySeaweed

thanks! have you guys come across discounts for alphatrak refill strips or lancets? i am still trying to figure out the right dosage & having to test multiple times a day. i had no idea so many people used the human meters & the cost difference.

 

[Laurie&Petey]

@Laurie&Petey @GuppySeaweed

thanks! have you guys come across discounts for alphatrak refill strips or lancets? i am still trying to figure out the right dosage & having to test multiple times a day. i had no idea so many people used the human meters & the cost difference.

Unfortunately I have never seen a discount for the strips. The majority use human meters with great success, those people will retire earlier then I will

 

[Bridget and Guppy]

@Laurie&Petey @GuppySeaweed

thanks! have you guys come across discounts for alphatrak refill strips or lancets? i am still trying to figure out the right dosage & having to test multiple times a day. i had no idea so many people used the human meters & the cost difference.

I have not I'm about to switch to a human meter now that I'm testing more than 2-3 times a day bc the strips will cripple me financially. As far as lancets go, I've been using the relion disposable safety lancets. For some reason I can't figure out a lancing device, but these guys are easy peasy and inexpensive

 

[SmallestSparrow]

You need to insert the code chip (in theory) for each new vial. I say in theory bc if the code is the same as the previous vial maybe maybe potentially you don’t. I would still do it. Each batch quality tested for accuracy based on the attached chip. So I think in theory of the chip code changes then the strips may not read accurately.

I always inserted the new chip. Takes a second (quite literally). I believe someone posted about a year ago that they hadn’t been doing this and when they finally did their cats Bg numbers improved dramatically. Fwiw. I also did a Control Strip check each new vial (but that’s me an my boy was complicated). After coding the meter I put the chip in a tiny plastic bag (left over from the lancets that came with the chip) and kept it “just in case” until a new vial was opened (just in case the meter needed replacing)

 

[Mary & Jude]

@Laurie&Petey @GuppySeaweed

thanks! have you guys come across discounts for alphatrak refill strips or lancets? i am still trying to figure out the right dosage & having to test multiple times a day. i had no idea so many people used the human meters & the cost difference.

Here are the lancets I use and like quite a bit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUH2FAY?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title. I freehand and don't use a lancing device because it scares Jude. These are more expensive than most lancets, but cheaper than the ATs.

 

[SmallestSparrow]

I never found a low cost vial but one tip: if your test solution runs out (or more likely expires, I don’t recall if it needed to be tossed at 3 months after opening or 6 but I always threw away some still in bottle) then it is about the same price (sometimes cheaper) to buy a new starter kit that has the control solution and lancets and test strips. Then you have a spare meter.

 

[SmallestSparrow]

Also for anyone changing to human meters, double check how long a vial is good after opening. Just in case you’re thinking of keeping the AT and strips to double check low numbers (I would do that) you want to write on the vial when they expire.

This hold true also for anyone using a ketone meter with strips that come in vials (vs individually wrapped). Make sure you use up before they expire and the printed expiration on the bottle I believe changes once you open the vial to a certain number of months (because of exposure to air and humidity)