Precision Comes Before Accuracy

[Harold]

Been a lot of talk about how accurate meters are, but first they must be PRECISE. Learn how to tell if your meter is precise and if you need to keep it or chuck it. An interesting little article by Mendosa; Precision Comes Before Accuracy (http://www.mendosa.com/precision.htm)

[sparkle9]

Harold,

Thanks for the information. I've never really thought about precision and accuracy in those terms before. I've been using an Accu-Chek Advantage for years. I've never tested the same blood sample 5 times in a row, but I have done it 3 times, and the results were very close. Also, my lab results have always matched my meter results pretty closely. After reading the Mendosa article, I feel really good about the Accu-Chek. It's a little bulky, but I'll just continue to carry a big purse! Plus, my insurance will only pay for Accu-Chek products, so I'm glad they are highly rated.

[duck]

I use at least three different meters a day (depending on where I am), all are Therasense Freestyle meters: When I test back-to-back-to-back, all are normally within fifteen points of each other. I assume that's precision, maybe I'll test them out as well...

[Dewey]

I think it's a matter of personal preference, and never have trusted Any meter to be 100% precise or accurate. There have been times where readings I've had did Not reflect the way I felt, so I'd re-check my blood, or use another meter to reference to.

I personally have found the Precision QID to be quite precise. I also have a Cozmonitor (Freestyle Flash) that I do Not Always trust, as I've experienced a few instances of inaccuracies (by about 100 points). I used to love my One Touch Ultra, but now that I don't have coverage for strips (and they are the highest priced in my area), I go with what I can afford. ;) :D

As I said, it's all a matter of personal preference, and what works best for each individual. Thankfully, there are many meters available to fit many lifestyles and regimens. :)

[KrisinNM]

Here were my findings with the Accucheck Advantage that is now in the trash can.
6:00am 322,248,313,335
7:00am error,283,304,282
8:00am 292,305,298,325
9:00am307,327,error,275
Of course I bolused a correction. Turned out I wasn't high at all and almost passed out at Walmart.
See my post in Moniters for some free test strips. :mad:

[Dewey]

Whoa Kris, that's frightening! :( :eek: Did you get a new meter? It's really scary that it was giving such errors and false readings. Hope you're ok now, and hope you got a better one.

[gettingby]

Wow Kris. That's not good. I'm glad that you found out before it got too bad. I hope you are feeling better. :D

[KrisinNM]

Thanks guys, I'm fine, not the first time. The reason I was using that meter was that I had run out of strips for my Accucheck Active, hence the trip to Walmart. I have known that the Advantage was bad since I got it, have already called the company and told them what I thought of it.

[lgvincent]

I hate to hear this has happend to you. Now that I think of it, I've heard several people say they've had problems with the Advantage meters recently. I wonder what is going on.

[azmum]

How long have you had the Advantage meter? I was just diagnosed a month ago and I have been using my mom's meter, so it is an older meter. I bought the curved Advantage strips at Walmart and there was a paper inside saying to check the accuracy of the strips. I think my readings have been pretty accurate, as it coincided with a recent blood test I had, but this week my readings have been higher. Is it possibly the strips at fault? I am sorry to hear of your scary experience, but really appreciate you sharing it so as to warn the rest of us. Thank you

[KrisinNM]

azmum, the meter is about 8 weeks old. I bought it because some idiot at my insurance co said they only covered test strips for the Advantage and Compac. Turns out they also cover the Active which I have been using for over a year and have no problems with. It was not the strips that were bad as I used up one box and opened another while doing all those test. :(

[Lynne]

My doc suggested taking my meter to my next fasting glucose test in January and asking the tech to let me test the blood before she puts on the band-aid, to check my meter...