Relion Prime

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sieden

Sieden

Member Since 2016
I know that you guys get a lot of questions about meters so I'm sorry to bug you with another one. I've been using the Relion Confirm since the dawn of man and today while I was browsing around Walmart I just happen to notice that the test strips for the Prime are HALF of what the Confirm are. I usually buy them in a box of 100 for 36.00 and the box of 100 for the Prime was 18.00
I don't have a problem getting a good sized blood drop out of Peanut so the fact that the Prime needs a bigger droplet isn't an issue for me. I did buy the monitor to try it out and the only complaint so far is that it doesn't beep to let me know that it's received enough blood on the strip. Maybe I didn't set it up correctly. I've only tested him once with it so far but as far as I can tell, it's testing higher than my confirm. I'll be testing him again here in another 30 minutes. I plan to continue using both meters to compare. The last test I got
290 w/ the Confirm and 311 w/ the Prime. I wanted to get some other people's thoughts on it because if you guys think it's a stand up meter then I just might switch to it. The Alphatrak also runs higher than the Confirm so I'm not really put off by that so much, I just want to make sure that it's consistent. The savings in the test strips is just crazy. It seems like pennies that I'm talking about but over the course of a year, that sh!t adds up.

Hope everyone is doing well ♥
 
290 and 311 are basically the same number

Even if you used the exact same meter on the exact same blood drop, you could get values up to 20% different

The FDA allows meters to have a 20% variance compared to the number you'd get on professional lab equipment, so any number you get could conceivably be 20% more or less

If the Prime is working for you, use it!!
 
Now I just tested him and it was the other was around, I got the higher number with the old monitor
 
Chris & China said:
290 and 311 are basically the same number

Even if you used the exact same meter on the exact same blood drop, you could get values up to 20% different

The FDA allows meters to have a 20% variance compared to the number you'd get on professional lab equipment, so any number you get could conceivably be 20% more or less

If the Prime is working for you, use it!!
Click to expand...
I just opened a brand new box of 50 for the confirm so I'll be using it as his main meter until I run out
 
Phoebes said:
I've used prime for most of the time. I have had no problem with meter just cat sometimes! :)
Click to expand...
well that makes me feel better. I guess I'll just use up the rest of my confirm strips and then switch to the prime
 
Lily & I have been using the Relion Prime for over a year now with no problems. From what I hear, the Prime needs a larger drop of blood than the Confirm or Micro but its still not that large by any means to be honest with you. And I like that I can buy 100 test strips for $17.88! :D
 
Hi,
Devil's Advocate is here with $0.02 (not really:), just to post to get the full spectrum of opinions here for readers who might still be deciding on the meter purchase).

The day before yesterday I went the opposite direction and switched from Relion Prime to Relion Micro (aimed at the Confirm but it wasn't on the shelf at the moment) and all I can say is why, oh why didn't I do it sooner?!:banghead::oops:

The first day I was comparing the tests results/sample sizes and as Chris posted above the results were relatively the same given allowed meter variance, but the sample size is completely different story. Here it is in brief:

Micro reads on smidgen of blood (I use now g33 lancets), literally, as compared to what Prime requires. When my cat drops too low it is difficult to draw enough blood for the reading and I often had to dip the strip in to a smidgen of blood. Prime's response: Error 13 inadequate sample size. I had to make another poke to work it out. :(

When my cat drops too low it is difficult to draw enough blood for the reading and I have to milk her ear - base of the ear to the poke site to get a sample. Prime's response: turns off after very short time before you done with milking. One has to take out the strip, restart the meter and manage to hold already stressed cat at the testing place and to start over. :(

Prime often goes off for no particular reason during the testing. :(

Sieden said:
I don't have a problem getting a good sized blood drop out of Peanut so the fact that the Prime needs a bigger droplet isn't an issue for me.
Click to expand...
My cat used to be anemic and the blood loss was the primary suspect. I am a pokey-holic. As she had no other issues with blood loss I had to allow the thought of testing too often/letting enough blood out for the Prime meter to be deemed as one of the reasons for her anemia - per vet's guess. Whenever I see my cat acting tired or too sleepy for no reason I think of anemia - weakness is one of the general symptoms. So for me the sample size was an issue and the deciding point for the switch.

Sieden said:
the only complaint so far is that it doesn't beep to let me know that it's received enough blood on the strip
Click to expand...
I liked that Prime didn't beep and didn't disturb the patient. You have to hold the Prime strip to the poke for a few seconds as the blood been drawn to the meter and watch it all the time because it doesn't beep.:( Micro on the other hand sucks the sample up in seconds, beeps, I put it aside and apply pressure to the poke immediately, it is better for my cat's ears healing and in general shortens the testing time.
Sieden said:
The savings in the test strips is just crazy.
Click to expand...
I agree with that 100%. It does adds up to a significant saving. However, I decided to spent more on strips for now in hopes that I won't need to spent on treating anemia later on.

I think both our opinions and equally valuable. I really just meant to present another view point for those still deciding. :bighug:

Have a wonderful day.
 
I've used the Prime for over a year and more likely closer to two. The cost is the big draw for me. Dakota's been 'pokied' for many years so bleeds easily other than when he's low. I do find that I get more errored strips - usually not enough blood but not enough to make it uneconomical. If I have strips for my Micro, I change immediately until they're gone...and back to the Prime.

Tanya and Ducia said:
I liked that Prime didn't beep and didn't disturb the patient.
Click to expand...

Tanya, you can turn the sound off on the Micro and Confirm both - it's in the 'set up' menu. You can also adjust the volume.
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
Hi,
Devil's Advocate is here with $0.02 (not really:), just to post to get the full spectrum of opinions here for readers who might still be deciding on the meter purchase).

The day before yesterday I went the opposite direction and switched from Relion Prime to Relion Micro (aimed at the Confirm but it wasn't on the shelf at the moment) and all I can say is why, oh why didn't I do it sooner?!:banghead::oops:

The first day I was comparing the tests results/sample sizes and as Chris posted above the results were relatively the same given allowed meter variance, but the sample size is completely different story. Here it is in brief:

Micro reads on smidgen of blood (I use now g33 lancets), literally, as compared to what Prime requires. When my cat drops too low it is difficult to draw enough blood for the reading and I often had to dip the strip in to a smidgen of blood. Prime's response: Error 13 inadequate sample size. I had to make another poke to work it out. :(

When my cat drops too low it is difficult to draw enough blood for the reading and I have to milk her ear - base of the ear to the poke site to get a sample. Prime's response: turns off after very short time before you done with milking. One has to take out the strip, restart the meter and manage to hold already stressed cat at the testing place and to start over. :(

Prime often goes off for no particular reason during the testing. :(


My cat used to be anemic and the blood loss was the primary suspect. I am a pokey-holic. As she had no other issues with blood loss I had to allow the thought of testing too often/letting enough blood out for the Prime meter to be deemed as one of the reasons for her anemia - per vet's guess. Whenever I see my cat acting tired or too sleepy for no reason I think of anemia - weakness is one of the general symptoms. So for me the sample size was an issue and the deciding point for the switch.


I liked that Prime didn't beep and didn't disturb the patient. You have to hold the Prime strip to the poke for a few seconds as the blood been drawn to the meter and watch it all the time because it doesn't beep.:( Micro on the other hand sucks the sample up in seconds, beeps, I put it aside and apply pressure to the poke immediately, it is better for my cat's ears healing and in general shortens the testing time.

I agree with that 100%. It does adds up to a significant saving. However, I decided to spent more on strips for now in hopes that I won't need to spent on treating anemia later on.

I think both our opinions and equally valuable. I really just meant to present another view point for those still deciding. :bighug:

Have a wonderful day.
Click to expand...

I currently use 33 gauge lancets and I still get enough and sometimes too much blood so I'm not worried. I don't remember how he reacts when he drops low but I'll watch out for that. I currently have the Prime, the Confirm, the Micro and the AlphaTrak2 lol I guess I'm a meter horder.
 
I can't say that I have had alot of error messages with the Prime. Its worked very well since we started this journey and I love the cost of the test strips, especially since I test Lily quite often. And I have to admit that I have the best, most patient kitty in the world to put up with me wanting to test her as much as I do.
 
I use the prime. I test A LOT so the savings is well worth it. Chuck bleeds easy so the drops size isn't an issue. I have gotten some random error messages but like someone mentioned above, it's not enough to mess with the cost.
I had to replace my meter in May. It wouldn't read that the blood was in there. Chuck likes to kick it on the floor of it's left out so the 8 million drops on the floor might have something to do with that. I noticed once I got my new one I can use a smaller drop off blood so I think it was having issues for a while.
Best advice I can give is to keep it in the little case it comes with so it won't get damaged. It's small and I still drop it sometimes when my hands don't want to work properly but a few drops so far and it's still working fine. Didn't want you to think a few short drops will break it. Although you never know!
 
I have used the Prime since Shiloh's diagnosis. She has been in remission. Will be two year in August. I just checked her, had no problem getting enough blood. 86 at what would be +7. And it has been almost two months since I check. So her ears are definitely not used to bleeding anymore.
 
I'm finding myself switching back and forth now. Sometimes Peanut's ears are really warm and I just know that he's going to bleed really well so I'll go ahead and use the Prime but if his ears are ice cold then I'll have to do the rice sock and right now I don't have a microwave and massaging his ear until it's warm enough takes awhile so when that happens then I'll just use the confirm.
 
I have a prime and I'm using 28 gauge lancets. No problems at all with amount of blood for the strip or the meter itself.
The last vet visit I brought my meter in for the dr to compare my prime to her alpha track. She used both meters on the same blood sample and there was only an 8 point difference. Alpha was higher.
Now that we're in a routine, I like the prime. I like its simplicity and lower strip cost.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top