meters and strips

[ydyjdwp]

Hello all..I am seeking info about meters and strips. We have used the Freestyle Freedom Lite meter with Freestyle lite strips with Lantus Glargine for 4 years now with much success. However, they go up on the strips frequently and they are now 65 dollars for 50 strips. We decided to try the new offering from Wal Mart , the Reli On Prime since they advertised their strips for 9 dollars for 50. We made dual tests on Cymba and found a large difference in the results, with the Reli On reading much higher. If his reading is 100 with the Freestyle the Reli On will read 110-115 but with a reading of 200 on the Freestyle, it will jump to 310-320 with the Reli On. We have discontinued use of the Reli On, and wondering if anyone has experienced this problem, but also worried if anyone is using the Reli On exclusively and there is a problem with it they may not know it and shoot excessively possibly resulting in hypo. Any info will be much appreciated, and if anyone has used other meters and strips with success, please advise. Cymba is doing great considering he is 17 and wishes everyone health and happiness.

Mike and Cymba

 

[TheBowHuntress]

The difference in meters at lower numbers is not significant ( probably due to 20% variance). I have a ReliOn Prime and Arkray Vital (ReliOn Ultima generic) which usually read within 3 points of each other. I also have a TrueResult which reads about 10 points lower in numbers less than 100. However, in numbers over 150, the TrueResult reads much lower. I had both the Prime and TR tested at the vet's office--the Prime was much closer than the TR. If in doubt, and you known your own approximate BG, test yourself. I hope this helps. Maybe you just happened to get a bad meter (working improperly)?

 

[ydyjdwp]

Thanks for the reply. We did test ourselves but with the low numbers the difference was negligible. If no one else has had this problem it could be just a bad meter. Will wait and see..Thanks again!

Mike and Cymba

 

[KPassa]

I've heard reverse and it's the freestyle that is actually less accurate. I haven't personally tested it myself, though.

 

[Deb & Wink]

We have a link to a study by Consumer Reports in October 2011. According to that, the Freestyle Freedom Lite, this is not the most accurate of meters. A comment had been added that says

This meter often gives low/false readings. This meter is not recommended.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjcBiiIVLby8dDUzZmMzUmNmVUtWWERST2xidWxnUVE#gid=0 This comment is based on the experience of members on this board when testing their diabetic cats.

Other comments on this meter from members include
From hmjohnston

Know that the freestyle light meter WITH THE BUTTERFLY strips do not show an accurate HIGH reading over 300 and has led to some problems-

From Dale' N 'chip

The problem with the freestyle lite is it gives false low readings at higher numbers when used with felines.

From Wendy & Tiggy

Quite a few members including myself found the Freestyle lite ( butterfly strips) unreliable - although usually its worse over 10, there is probably a discrepancy at lower numbers too.

We on this board do not recommend that meter for that reason.

The Relion Prime is a good meter and is used by many members on this board, and the price of the test strips $9/50 can't be beat.

You will drive yourself crazy if you try to use two different meters side by side. Even testing on the exact same blood drop within seconds of each other will give you different readings. I recommend that you choose one meter and stick with it.

 

[Venita]

I have heard from several people that the Relion Prime is unreliable. Tests taken with the same Prime meter minutes apart can be hundred of points different. Good price, but not worth the savings, IMO.

 

[BJM]

Typically, glucometers in the USA may vary as much as 20% from what a lab would obtain.

The graph here and accompanying table on the next page, show this. Find you test value along the bottom axis, then come straight up to intercept the lines for the lower and upper estimates. Next, look straight to the left to see where it intercepts that; those are the upper and lower estimates.

The spreadsheet on the next page shows the test value, the lower and upper estimates, plus the width of the range between the lower and upper estimates. I have color coded these to indicate various ranges.

 

[KPassa]

I have heard from several people that the Relion Prime is unreliable. Tests taken with the same Prime meter minutes apart can be hundred of points different. Good price, but not worth the savings, IMO.

I hadn't heard this before. Speaking from personal experience, I've never had that steep a variance between tests (always well within the 20% range). Then again, Mikey doesn't run too high nowadays and I have a feeling this inaccuracy with the Prime might be at much higher numbers than he sees. Besides, at numbers that high, I consider it to be simply "too high" and I stop paying attention to the actual number until it comes down below at least 300 again. What difference really does a 650 and a 350 make when a cat can go into DKA at either number?

What I have found instead is that the Prime is extremely accurate on lower numbers, even over the Micro. If I'm using the Micro, I'll switch to the Prime once Michelangelo starts going under around 70. The Micro reads too low on lower numbers and would make me think he's hypoing when in fact he's just fine.

 

[Dale 'n' Chip]

I have heard from several people that the Relion Prime is unreliable. Tests taken with the same Prime meter minutes apart can be hundred of points different...

Speaking as someone who is no fan of the Relion Prime I think "unreliable" is probably the wrong term. "Inconsistent" at very high numbers is likely a better way to put it.

After burning through more than 1000 Prime/Vital test strips I find it to be reliable (perhaps even consistent) at normal green and blue numbers.

On the other hand the Freestyle lite (with butterfly strips) is apparently reliably inaccurate at numbers over 200. The Freestyle has repeatedly proven dangerous to use with felines, with cats going DKA (more than once for Boo Radley) with what looked like blue and yellow numbers that in reality were likely as high as (or over) 400.

If Freestyle lite and Relion Prime where the only 2 choices for meters, I'd choose the Relion Prime.

 

[hmjohnston]

Otherwise you can use the Relion Micro and get the strips from ADW (use the link at the top of page) to auto-ship the order to you for $.29 cents a strip at $70+ (for 250) per order. Auto-ship takes 5% off and it takes care of most of the shipping.

On the ADW site- the Arkray VITAL is $42 something with 200 strips and the strips are also $46-ish which comes to $.18 cents a strip for 250.

I tested the Vital to the Micro for 50 strips- the Vital was usually lower- only 3 times was it higher- and ALWAYS less than 10% different except once when it was almost 20%- but I think I ran out of blood for the two tests so it might have been a fluke.