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02-27-2008, 06:03 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 78
| | | How accurate are these meters, really.
I have type 2 and when I test my glucose, I can get fairly large differences between 2 tests taken just a couple minutes apart. When I suspect a weird reading, I sometimes test again on a different finger and may get a difference as high as 20. This makes me wonder if I'm doing the test right or the meter just has that much margin of error.
And while I'm on the subject, why does the test solution have such a wide target to land in. My limited inteligence would suggest that a test solution could be made with an exact glucose contact and the meter should be able to read that within a margin of error. Since the margin they give you to fall in is so large, that suggests the meters may also be that much in error?
What are your thoughts? |
02-27-2008, 11:10 AM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Scotland
Posts: 174
| | | The "standard" requires that 95% of meter readings should fall within plus or minus 20% of the actual Blood Glucose concentration. That means that if your BG is 100, one in twenty readings could be lower than 80 or higher than 120!
As you can see, they are not required to be very precise at all. |
02-27-2008, 11:13 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 610
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by JJM335  The "standard" requires that 95% of meter readings should fall within plus or minus 20% of the actual Blood Glucose concentration. That means that if your BG is 100, one in twenty readings could be lower than 80 or higher than 120!
As you can see, they are not required to be very precise at all. | This answers the second question also...
It is a little frustrating but when you consider what they are doing with such a small sample...
Mark
__________________
Dx May 2007
A1C @ Dx = 7.0
9/15/07 = 5.1 (Biosafe home test kit)
10/9/07 = 5.4
1/18/08 = 5.4
6/11/08 = 5.3
11/4/08 = 5.6
No meds - just diet and exercise |
02-27-2008, 11:31 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 78
| | | I guess that explains the two tests I just did on different fingers. One was 85 and the other 99. Since I'm new at this, I was hoping that the meter was better than just a ballpark shot in the dark. |
02-27-2008, 11:59 AM
|  | Super Moderator
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 7,419
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by doctordun Since I'm new at this, I was hoping that the meter was better than just a ballpark shot in the dark. | I think the meter is MUCH better than a "shot in the dark." Your meter is your lifeline....sure there's a discrepancy at times, but it will let you know quickly should you start an upward trend.
Without our meters, we'd have to judge our control by how we feel...or worse, we'd have to wait until we had an A1C drawn..imagine how much damage could be done if you started going really high, but weren't aware of it until your next doctor's appt.
__________________ T2, diagnosed 8/31/06.
Byetta 5 mcg
HCTZ 12.5 mg every other day for BP
Enalapril 20 mg 1 daily (ace-inhibitor)
Lower carb dieter (approx. 75 total carbs/day, more on weekends), taking chromium, multivitamin and fish oil tablets Initial A1C 8/06: 9.6
11/06: 6.2.
03/07: 5.3
06/07: 5.4
10/07: 5.3
05/08: 6.2 (right after dealing with shingles and bronchitis)  |
02-27-2008, 12:03 PM
|  | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Santa Barbara, Ca
Posts: 37
| | | I'm pretty sure that it's not as important to know the exact number as it is the general vicinity that your BGL lies. Besides, it adds a sort of buffer as to not freak about when you get an unexpected number. |
02-27-2008, 03:38 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Universe, Planet Earth :P
Posts: 1,078
| | I have an Aviva, and i've tested it when having bloodwork done at the 3 month checkups, and it's been very accurate, showing the same as the proffessional machine in the lab  I trust my Aviva anyways!
__________________ 
23 years old, diagnosed T1D on october 14th 2004.
On MDI, Novorapid and Levemir, using the NP4 
Currently back to pumping Novo with my IR1200, since April 2008.
Been using D-tron and Animas IR1200 but prefer the pen really  |
02-27-2008, 04:35 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, ON Canada
Posts: 379
| | | I felt that my meter was off and it was only a year old. I went to the drug store to have it tested and they just gave me a new one.
When I got home I tested using the new meter and got a reading of 7.7 and then I tested the old meter and the reading was 11.5.
So much for the old meter, my point is that these meters do go bad and as someone suggested the only way to test accurately is to test it when your blood is being taken.
I know there is a liquid but evidently the shelf life is very limited. |
02-27-2008, 04:40 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Brunswick Canada, eh
Posts: 7,332
| | | I often verify tests with a second reading. I have only ever had two tests come out the same.
If you are in a critical situation or you are making an important decision based on a test, re-do it. Examples are getting in the car to drive home from work and you test at 4.3/78, basal testing, or setting I:C ratios. |
02-27-2008, 04:52 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bucks County, PA, USA
Posts: 1,140
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by xMenace I often verify tests with a second reading. I have only ever had two tests come out the same.
If you are in a critical situation or you are making an important decision based on a test, re-do it. Examples are getting in the car to drive home from work and you test at 4.3/78, basal testing, or setting I:C ratios. | I will sometimes do a re-test if the reading is unexplainably very high. Unfortuately... well... that's what insulin is for.
__________________ 
Unless otherwise stated, the opinions expressed here are my own and are in no way intended to be considered as anything other than my opinion. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. |
02-27-2008, 05:43 PM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 78
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Schlep When I got home I tested using the new meter and got a reading of 7.7 and then I tested the old meter and the reading was 11.5. |
Do meters in Canada read in a different scale than the US meters? I'm not sure what 7.7 and 11.5 relate to. |
02-27-2008, 05:48 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Brunswick Canada, eh
Posts: 7,332
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by doctordun Do meters in Canada read in a different scale than the US meters? I'm not sure what 7.7 and 11.5 relate to. | It's the US that's different. Remember that!  Multiply by 18. |
02-27-2008, 05:49 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, ON Canada
Posts: 379
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by doctordun Do meters in Canada read in a different scale than the US meters? I'm not sure what 7.7 and 11.5 relate to. | Take the numbers and multipy by 18 to get numbers that you are used to. |
02-27-2008, 06:20 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 610
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by UpNorth I have an Aviva, and i've tested it when having bloodwork done at the 3 month checkups, and it's been very accurate, showing the same as the proffessional machine in the lab I trust my Aviva anyways! | I have done that too. However, it was only with fasting tests. That tells me that the meter agrees with the lab down around 90-100. I tested before and after I had my blood drawn and my meter was within a point or two.
It doesn't tell me how it does on either end of the scale. It might not be linear or the slope might not be right - I have no way of knowing.
As the others have said, I use it for a guide and I retest if I get a result that doesn't make sense.
Mark
__________________
Dx May 2007
A1C @ Dx = 7.0
9/15/07 = 5.1 (Biosafe home test kit)
10/9/07 = 5.4
1/18/08 = 5.4
6/11/08 = 5.3
11/4/08 = 5.6
No meds - just diet and exercise |
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