[Ronin]

Everyone:

When I first got the diagnosis of Pre-Diabetic I went to my local pharmacy and purchased a monitor on the advice of the pharmacist. It is a "True Track." Everything I read about them said they compared well with all the other meters on the market. However, today I used the test solution for the second time (I only just started to use this to check the meter on the advice of a friend).

What bothers me is that the manufacturer makes two conflicting statements:

1. All the solution has a "fixed and known amount of glucose"

2. That readings in the middle range noted on the test strip container show that it is working well

3. The second use of the test solution read at 280 while the first read 181 (which is the low end of the middle band on the container) While both are in the middle range -- why the vast disparity?

If the solution has a fixed and known amount of glucose, why shouldn't the readings be identical? Yes, I know that all tests, including those laboratory tests are accurate to within +/- X%. The more narrow the range, the more accurate.

Since I'm obsessive compulsive, and try to live by the numbers, I'm wondering how you folks, with a lot more experience than me, chose your meters and which ones you found to be most accurate.

[spike]

Originally Posted by Ronin

Everyone:

When I first got the diagnosis of Pre-Diabetic I went to my local pharmacy and purchased a monitor on the advice of the pharmacist. It is a "True Track." Everything I read about them said they compared well with all the other meters on the market. However, today I used the test solution for the second time (I only just started to use this to check the meter on the advice of a friend).

What bothers me is that the manufacturer makes two conflicting statements:

1. All the solution has a "fixed and known amount of glucose"

2. That readings in the middle range noted on the test strip container show that it is working well

3. The second use of the test solution read at 280 while the first read 181 (which is the low end of the middle band on the container) While both are in the middle range -- why the vast disparity?

If the solution has a fixed and known amount of glucose, why shouldn't the readings be identical? Yes, I know that all tests, including those laboratory tests are accurate to within +/- X%. The more narrow the range, the more accurate.

Since I'm obsessive compulsive, and try to live by the numbers, I'm wondering how you folks, with a lot more experience than me, chose your meters and which ones you found to be most accurate.

Here's the deal: the BEST advice I can give you, especially if you want accuracy is to get the UltraSmart meter, OR wait for the new version, the UltraSmart 2, that will be released soon. Another option: the Ultra2. They all use the same strips. Repeatability and accuracy is outstanding.

[JediSkipdogg]

A few things to think about. Control solutions have that window they can fall anywhere in. For the One Touch Ultra meters it is 98-132. The same bottle can and sometimes will give you a 98 and also a 132. Most of the time (90%) it will be in the middle.

Another thing, how old is the control solution? Control solution has an expiration date believe it or not and over time it breaks down. It breaks down faster once opened. So I'm not sure if maybe your solution is old or not. Other than those two thoughts, I'm out of ideas.

[seacomp]

Originally Posted by Ronin

If the solution has a fixed and known amount of glucose, why shouldn't the readings be identical? Yes, I know that all tests, including those laboratory tests are accurate to within +/- X%. The more narrow the range, the more accurate.

You don't mention the time between your tests so there could have been changes in the solution as suggested.
There are two measures that are important consistancy and accuracy. You can check consistancy, by just immediately doing another test, with the same blood if you can.
A meter can be consistant, but not accurate. I had one that was consistant to within about +/-12 points, but consistantly 45 points wrong (which the company thought perfectly ok)! I knew it was wrong because I'd be in the middle of a hypo and the meter would indicate BG right on target of 90.
Today I use the Bayer Ascencia Contour, which was reccomended to me as the most accurate. But I've not done the tests myself.

[arath13]

Always remember to shake the bottle of control solution. Also, True Track >>Truly Sucks!

I would put my FreeStyle against all meters for accuracy!

OUT!

[Cyborg]

You could probably call Lifescan and ask for an UltraSmart and you might get one for free. I've gotten a couple free ones in the last year and I really like them. They make their real money on the test strips.

Any meter that gives results that vary 100 pts with the same test solution would also concern me. Maybe a better test is to use your own blood as a test solution and take a few readings within a couple minutes of each other and see if they are close.

[Ronin]

Everyone:

Thanks for the quick responses. I think I understand the issue, but I am still frustrated. I guess my industrial experience, which allows for small variations in outputs of any process, but not big ones, doesn't apply in this technology.

That being said, I ran across a measurement of meter accuracy as it related to HgA1c testing as opposed to FBG because the article said the HgA1c is the most accurate reading.

So, I went back to my spreadsheet where I've stored all my data and found, much to my surprise, that the average meter readings over the 90 days prior to my HgA1c test came to 103 and the results of the lab test were 5.1 (which I am told coorelates to 104). Therefore, while any one reading may have been off by a bit, the overall average is bang-on.

Comments?

[Cyborg]

I think that's why they do the test as it gives the 3 month average.

Type 1 diabetics have to take insulin based on current bg readings and what they are eating. If I had a meter that showed me 2 different readings that varied by 100 points, it would be in the trash in 2 seconds flat...

That is an awesome a1c BTW.

[Ritehsedad]

Current meter/test strips are accurate to +/- 15-20%. If your actual BG is 150, your results may be from 120-180.

I believe that part of the reason why they are not more accurate is cost. It would probably be prohibitably expensive to sell test strips/meters that are accurate to within, say +/- 5%. Currently, without insurance, you can expect to pay about $0.80 per strip. If you test 4 times a day that's $96/month. What if it cost $4 per test strip if they were accurate within +/- 5%? Would you be willing to pay $480/month (no insurance)?

[Cyborg]

I believe that the +/- 20% value varies (increases to 20%) as your bg reading increases. So the closer you are to normal bg values, the less deviation and more accuracy.