SmallestSparrow
Very Active Member
First I’m going to note that when I went to get current strip prices for Xtra I had a hard time finding any. So Abbott may be phasing it out—when they phased out the Alpha Trak 2 the same thing happened. While searching I saw several human meters with cheaper strips than Centrivet but I don’t know ANYTHING about those meters. If you do feel free to share. Also this is for @VictoriaVic since she asked
Here is my take FWIW of the centrivet (CV) ketone/glucose handheld meter for animals, compared to the Precision Xtra (Xtra) human glucose/ketone meter.
First ketone accuracy. Both the Xtra and CV report accuracy within 0.2 for sample values <1.5mmol/L. Yeah, for us ketone obsessives that variation is mind-blowing but the rest of the world moves on.
Next ketone sample size: the Xtra requires 1.5 microliters, the CV 1.2 microliters.
Timing to collect ketone sample: the Xtra times out in 60 seconds, the CV in 120 seconds.
Time to run ketone sample: both run in 10 seconds
Strip storage: the Xtra strips are individually foil sealed which is nice for carrying just a few in a case, and feels more protective. Otoh when your fingers are cut up or you’re in a hurry to get a new strip they are sort of a pain. CV has 25 strips in a vial.
Meter set up: I found both fairly easy.
Meter display: both are easy to navigate memory, with date and time easy to see. Since the CV is larger its display is larger which some might appreciate —not significant enough to me and outweighed by size (literally)
Meter feel: buttons are easy to use on both. Both are very smooth plastic, the CV has what looks like might be grooves to improve grip—if so they fail. I have very small hands (I wear children’s gloves) so I prefer the size of the Xtra but some may prefer the CV if they have larger hands or hands that can’t close fully. I’ll attach a photo. The CV has an irregular shape that feels somewhat right-handed to me. Ymmv. I’m ambidextrous but bc of the ear I test I usually hold the meter in my right (I may pick up and manipulate with my left and if testing the other ear do switch which hand hold the meter). Unlike the xtra which feels the same in both hands the CV feels more natural in my right. The Xtra weighs 1.2 ounces the CV 2.3
Strip cost: xtra strips from Abbott website are about $5 each. Amazon sold them cheaper but I no longer see them listed. Abbott may be phasing out the xtra or this may be temporary. I do see several other ketone meters available that seem cheaper. CV strips are $2 each
how did they do? I got 0.1 today on the xtra (which @Heike & BInie knows makes my day; I got my FIRST EVER 0.0 on the CV. Next test it could be the other way around, remember each meter has a 0.2 acceptable variation but still…I’m happy)
Here is my take FWIW of the centrivet (CV) ketone/glucose handheld meter for animals, compared to the Precision Xtra (Xtra) human glucose/ketone meter.
First ketone accuracy. Both the Xtra and CV report accuracy within 0.2 for sample values <1.5mmol/L. Yeah, for us ketone obsessives that variation is mind-blowing but the rest of the world moves on.
Next ketone sample size: the Xtra requires 1.5 microliters, the CV 1.2 microliters.
Timing to collect ketone sample: the Xtra times out in 60 seconds, the CV in 120 seconds.
Time to run ketone sample: both run in 10 seconds
Strip storage: the Xtra strips are individually foil sealed which is nice for carrying just a few in a case, and feels more protective. Otoh when your fingers are cut up or you’re in a hurry to get a new strip they are sort of a pain. CV has 25 strips in a vial.
Meter set up: I found both fairly easy.
Meter display: both are easy to navigate memory, with date and time easy to see. Since the CV is larger its display is larger which some might appreciate —not significant enough to me and outweighed by size (literally)
Meter feel: buttons are easy to use on both. Both are very smooth plastic, the CV has what looks like might be grooves to improve grip—if so they fail. I have very small hands (I wear children’s gloves) so I prefer the size of the Xtra but some may prefer the CV if they have larger hands or hands that can’t close fully. I’ll attach a photo. The CV has an irregular shape that feels somewhat right-handed to me. Ymmv. I’m ambidextrous but bc of the ear I test I usually hold the meter in my right (I may pick up and manipulate with my left and if testing the other ear do switch which hand hold the meter). Unlike the xtra which feels the same in both hands the CV feels more natural in my right. The Xtra weighs 1.2 ounces the CV 2.3
Strip cost: xtra strips from Abbott website are about $5 each. Amazon sold them cheaper but I no longer see them listed. Abbott may be phasing out the xtra or this may be temporary. I do see several other ketone meters available that seem cheaper. CV strips are $2 each
how did they do? I got 0.1 today on the xtra (which @Heike & BInie knows makes my day; I got my FIRST EVER 0.0 on the CV. Next test it could be the other way around, remember each meter has a 0.2 acceptable variation but still…I’m happy)
