Switching Meters - How to figure things out??

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Amy&TrixieCat

Amy&TrixieCat

Member Since 2011
I'm switching from my beloved One Touch Ultra Mini to the Relion, basically just because of the cost of One Touch test strips is killing me. I just ran a side-by-side test of the two using the same drop of blood. The One Touch gave me an 82, and the Relion gave me a 67.

Has anyone else compared these two? I know in the grand scheme, these numbers aren't drastically different; however, if Trix was running lower as she was this morning, it would have made a big difference.

What's the best way to transition? Just jump in, and kind of forget that I ever used the One Touch? Confusion! I was hoping to make the switch this evening....

Thanks for any suggestions!

Amy
 
Amy:

I think others that have made switches do just that....they mark it on their SS and start using the new meter.

I hope you like the Relion. While there isn't a big difference between 67 and 82, it is on the edge of 20% meter variance. Usually at the lower numbers, the numbers would be expected to have a little less difference.

I hear you on the test strips but I really love my OT!!! Good luck...I hope you like the Relion.
 
Meters can have up to a 20% variance.

So an 82 would be a 16 point variance.

82-16=66....

So the Relion is within tolerance.

I find and have found with several diabetic cats that the relion meter tends to be spot-on with the vets testing equipment.
 
Some meters have greater variability at the lower (and sometimes higher) ends. I don't think there's much you can do other than start using the new meter.
 
Thanks for the feedback. It's interesting to note that it has run spot-on with vet's meters. It also makes me wonder, for example, if this morning's 52 for Trix was really way lower than that...

I love my One Touch, too...but the strips for the Relion are half as much - and that's if I mail order the strips for the OT. There have been times that the strips haven't arrived in time and I've had to buy them locally. Yikes!!!

I guess we'll jump in with it tonight, make the note on the SS, and go from there.
 
It's interesting what Beth said about the Relion being spot on with the vet's equipment. My vet uses an AT and it was consistently 30 higher than my OT which would make it alot higher than the Relion.

The caveat to that is Beth's vet might not be using an AT.....I'm not sure what vets typically use.
 
Good point, Marjorie. I have no idea what my vet uses, nor have a I done a comparison with their meter. I do know, however, that they charte $28 for ONE pokie :o :shock: :o :shock: !!!
 
Just to add my two cents...I used a Relion as a backup to my Accu-Chek Aviva, but made the Relion my primary meter because of test strip costs. I also did a side by side comparison with the same drop of blood and this showed the Relion was always 20-30 points lower than the Aviva. I did this a few times to make sure, with different drops of blood, and found the Relion was reliably lower than the Aviva. Take a look at Champ's SS to see how I marked the use of the different meter.
 
Hi Amy,
I have done many side-by-side tests (on myself) of the FreeStyle Lite and the Relion Micro. They are always within 8 points of each other. Which Relion are you using? The Micro and the Confirm (I have one of each) use the same test strips and when I tested them against each other they were very close. The older Relion Ultima uses different strips. I don't have my Ultima any more (the strips were recalled and I took the opportunity to switch to the Micro, but never compared them against each other because of the faulty strips for the Ultima).

I agree with everyone else. Make the switch. Mark it on your SS. and move on! The Relion is a very good meter.

Ella
 
TrixieCat said:
Good point, Marjorie. I have no idea what my vet uses, nor have a I done a comparison with their meter. I do know, however, that they charte $28 for ONE pokie :o :shock: :o :shock: !!!
Click to expand...


:lol: :lol: :lol: I volunteer to do the pokies as the techs are so unskilled at it.

And yes, Marjorie does make a good point regarding individual machines and calibration standards.
 
I know what ya mean about the skill level. When Trix had her dental, they tested her twice while she was there (cha-ching!). Her poor little ears were so bruised when she came home that night! They should've called me...I would have been happy to drive over and do the pokies!

Update with PMPS coming to her condo shortly!!!
 
I was comparing our Relion with a Nova Max...and the numbers were close, but the Relion read consistently 10-20 pts lower.
I was happy with that as the strips are affordable, and I knew i'd rather think he was lower, to avoid hypo...

we love the Relion!
 
I have the Relion Micro as my back-up to my main meter, AlphaTrak! I love the Relion Micro with it swiping just a small drop of blood. You've gotten a lot of good feedback.

P.S. I also use the Relion Micro once in a while to test myself.
 
ReliOn vs. AlphaTrak. I purchased an AlphaTrak (meter used by most vets) when Tuffy was diagnosed. Tuffy was a diver big time. I ran out of strips twice and testing solution (only valid for 1 month). Strips for the AlphaTrak are very expensive ($70.00/50 on Amazon). I switched to the ReliOn. Having the AlphaTrak, I did several comparison tests between the two meters (using the same blood sample). I NEVER got a wide variance between the AlphaTrak. I no longer have to buy test solution to calibrate the meter every time I use new strips. I hope you are happy with the ReliOn. I have never had a problem.
 
That's interesting Violet. In the side-by-side tests we've done with the Relion and the One Touch, the Relion came out lower. Either way, we're a Relion family now :-D !
 
We too use the Relion & I have nothing negative to report ;-)
Switching meters is scary .. but in a few days you will know what is normal on the Relion.. may not be scientific or exact in relation to comparison of your old meter, but it all evens out at the end of the day.
 
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