? Relion vs. AlphaTrak 2--blood drop size?

[Squeakycats]

Hi--I'm having an unfortunate opportunity to compare the AlphaTrak 2 I originally purchased to a Relion meter I got when I was out of AT test strips. The numbers are very different, obviously--but I feel like the amount of blood required is different too. They both say that they require .3 uL--but it seems to me like in practice, I need a larger drop in order to get a reading from the AT. I feel like it might have something to do with the shape of the test strip; the Relion one seems easier to lay flat against the ear. Has anybody else had this experience? It's making me want to switch to the Relion.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

With the AT strip it's important to have one of the tiny fingers on either side of the bottom of the strip touching the blood drop directly. Aside from that I find mine gives a reading with a very small drop.

 

[Squeakycats]

I have been trying to do that, but I must be messing it up somehow!