CoaguChek S - is anyone using one?

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Protimenow

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I've indicated that I have added a CoaguChek S to my testing setup. I got the machine - brand new - delivered - for $40. I got 48 strips for about $135 delivered. I thought I was doing great.

Then, I found out that Roche won't offer strips for this meter after October 2011.

I also found out that Roche probably won't do a thing for me in regards to upgrading the S to an XS (and, for what I paid, I'm not surprised).

I got a supply of lancets that I thought would give me an adequate blood drop (and they have once or twice).

I'd really like to use the remaining strips - I probably have 30 or more, and they're good until next June -- BUT -- the last two times I tried to use this machine, I wound up wasting two strips each time. Although I seemed to get enough blood, my aim wasn't good enough to place the drop EXACTLY above that blinking light. I don't have the capillary tubes that they sell to take the blood off the finger and deposit it onto the strips.

If anyone out there has used the S - successfully - could you give me a hint on how to stop wasting strips (and I don't mean advice to stop using the meter - I've already figured that one out).


(When I want a successful test, I use my ProTime 3 -- sure, it requires more blood and it's larger than the CoaguChek or InRatio machines -- but it comes with a lancing device, and I very rarely have a failed test.)

Thanks for any advice you can give.
 
With the lack of responses after 24 hours or so, I'm hoping that everyone who had a CoaguChek S has gotten a free upgrade from Roche and are now using the XS.

I was FINALLY able to get a good test -- Part of my problem, I think, was poor depth perception (a cataract keeps me from doing great with 3-D tasks). I got a large enough drop of blood, and with both eyes working (sort of), I was able to get the large drop on the small area where it belonged. I'm hoping that I can do this consistently each time I test using the CoaguChek S. I think I have enough strips for weekly tests (if I don't waste them trying to put the drop on the strip) until they expire next June.

FWIW - I've been using the ProTime for quite a while, and now use the ProTime 3 -- the way their system works, you've got to get a few drops of blood, but there's a collection device built right into the lancet. It's hard NOT to get a large enough sample, once you've figured out how the system works. Sure, there's possibly a minor amount more discomfort because you get a larger incision, but the ProTime test also has two controls and doesn't require the drop of blood within seconds of making the puncture.

If, some day, I wind up with a CoaguChek XS or an InRatio or InRatio 2, I expect testing to be easier than my experience with the CoaguChek S, and may wind up wondering which meter best suits my needs. (The issue of how many strips I have to buy and how often I need to test may also enter into the equation, if I'm not able to share a box of strips with someone else who has the same machine)
 
OHHH, NOW I UNDERSTAND.

EVERYONE HERE WHO HAD A COAGUCHEK S immediately tossed their meters in the trash the minute a new one came out to replace it, and they ALL got an instant, free upgrade to an XS. Right? The CoaguChek S, that seemed to work okay until a newer model came out, instantly became unusable -- and anyone who still had one became a valid target for ridicule.

And, for someone who can't afford an XS or an InRatio2, it's better to not have a meter at all than to get a CoaguChek S. Let this worthless, useless, person die if he can't buy the latest and greatest. Right? (Fortunately, I have a ProTime and ProTime 3 -- perhaps not quite as new as the XS or InRatio 2 - but still supported by the company, the ProTime 3 is still their latest and greatest, but, of course, not YOUR favorite - so I don't have to use that crappy, obsolete CoaguChek S.) And, of course, because I bought the CoaguChek S - new, in the box, from a vendor on eBay (AND NOT FROM EBAY, AS YOU WROTE), it's of no value.

And everyone who used this worthless, obsolete CoaguChek S meter got amnesia about how they may have been able to coax the drop of blood from finger to strip, so they couldn't possibly have provided any advice to a poor sucker with that old, worthless, crappy meter. Funny, I've seen lots of advice about other issues - but I guess one about an 'obsolete' meter, purchased on eBay, is below the threshold. And, because I admitted to buying this meter on eBay, it further pushes the idea of being worthy of getting any responses - other than ridicule - even farther below the horizon.

And, I guess because I was stupid enough to get an S, rather than an XS, I don't even deserve the courtesy of a reply - other than a string of insults or jokes at my expense.

Being lucky enough to live long enough to get on Medicare, and get a meter and testing partially subsized; or being able to have medical insurance that will pay for a newer meter and supplies; or merely being financially solid enough to handle these things yourself certainly gives you absolute superiority over others who may not have those benefits. My goal is still to somehow set things up so that people who aren't as fortunate (or arrogant) as you apparently are - who can't afford their own meters and testing - and who are prime candidates for stroke or bleeding out - to be tested and managed, regardless of income. These are the kind of people you'd probably walk past on the street, because you've all got your own meters, and are obviously superior.

GO AHEAD AND LAUGH.

Lets make this public, instead of being civil enough to use e-Mail.

I thought I had made it through this B.S. without being attacked -- but obviously kids will be kids.

I expected little less from you, Bina. It's the other children who surprised me.
 
Bina said:
Uh, I'll have to get back to you....I'm just on the phone with IBM....requesting my new computer to replace this outdated one.
Click to expand...

Wow. That's hilarious.

What brainpower you must have to be so witty.

(Is it possible that perhaps you or others may have actually contacted Roche or your meter provider about upgrading from an S to an XS? Isn't this the same thing as your amazingly clever comment about being on the phone with IBM?)
 
Cris:

I'm glad you didn't choose to make a direct attack.

Actually, I got much, much, much more than what I paid for. The meter works just fine. Although I'm disappointed that Roche apparently won't be offering strips after October of next year, I'll still have gotten 15 months of use out of the meter.

I had the same issues with the meter I just bought, brand new, that I would have had with the exact same meter if I had paid $1500 for it in 2006 or 2007. I was just asking for advice from anyone who had (and doesn't necessarily have now) the same meter. That's all.

You apparently missed the point I was trying to make when I indicated that I was able to buy meters on eBay for less than retail. The point I was trying to make -- and still care deeply about -- is that people who can't afford to pay full retail, or who are tired of fighting the insurance companies and failing -- can still do testing with meters that they can buy on eBay - often for far less than retail. For people who don't want to go to doctor's offices and prefer to do self-testing, I was pointing out that there are options.

I don't think I went on and on about great prices. I DID point out that I got a good price on my CoaguChek S. I DID point out that I was able to get a very functional, ALMOST NEW, ProTime meter for 99 cents (amazingly), but I wasn't gloating about MY being able to get such a great deal -- I was trying to point out to those who were having trouble with insurance coverage, or were a hundred miles from the nearest anticoagulation clinic, or just plain couldn't afford to pay retail, that there were options. I bought my CoaguChek S from a medical surplus dealer. I've seen other meters similarly available. The ProTime meters I've seen on eBay currently cost considerably less than $100 - and still get full support from the manufacturer....strips made for the ProTime3 also work just fine in the 'classic' ProTime - and the quality controls are built into the strips.

I also pointed out that many of the meters - though possibly not new - and possibly last generation - were still quite functional, and rather affordable. This wasn't about the price I paid - it was about the price others who wanted to own a meter might be able to pay. And I've warned about the CoaguChek S and its impending expiration date.

My goal is to help enable people who are ABLE to self-test to be ABLE to get their own meters for testing. If they can't pay retail for a meter, or can't get it through Medicare, or can't get help from the insurance companies, I was pointing out an option. It's THOSE people I'm writing these posts about buying on eBay for. It's not about me.

I'm sorry a few people didn't understand this.
 
I've been away from the forum for awhile (relocating to OKC took most of my time and attention recently) so am just now seeing this. I did not realize that there were 2 different versions of the coaguchek machine, but having just gotten the XS model, I am very glad I did get the latest and greatest. To the OP, no need to be snarky rude and nasty, but I do empathize with your frustration over the issue. I hope by now you have gotten the XS and are happier now.
 
Jeanie - I'm glad to see someone else responding to this thread.

I don't know what OP you're referring to. I hope I'm not the one you accuse of being 'snarky rude and nasty.' For perspective, I've been attacked and ridiculed a few times by just a few of the same people, and I responded to more of this ridicule here. I'm hoping that this 'feud' ended on Friday.

As far as the CoaguChek is concerned, there were at least three, and probably more, generations of this tester.

The original tester with the name CoaguChek was apparently first offered in 1994 by Boehringer Mannheim. I don't have dates on this meter. Boehringer Mannheim may have been a division of Roche -- the meter also had a Roche logo on it. Roche also offered CoaguChek meters - a Pro/DM version was designed for clinical testing.

The CoaguChek S, which is the one I recently bought, was released in 2005 or 2006, but I'm not sure of the exact date. It was an improvement over the CoaguChek (and it gave Roche an opportunity to sell an entirely new meter to users of the earlier meter). The CoaguChek S uses the same test strips that the CoaguChek meter used.

Roche sold thousands - possibly tens of thousands, and maybe even 100s of thousands of these meters. The were used by physicians, anticoagulation clinics, other clinics and labs, and a large number of individuals on anticoagulants who were self testing. There were some issues with these meters that made them less than ideal: the meters didn't have internal quality controls and, especially for clinics running a lot of tests, quality controls were needed to assure accuracy. The strips required refrigeration if they were to be stored over long periods of time. It was sometimes difficult to get a large enough drop of blood onto a small area on the strip - this is the issue I had asked for advice about. The solution to this issue used by some labs, from what I understand, is to use a cuvette (like a small eye dropper) to take the blood from the finger and deposit it onto the small spot on the strip. For an accurate test, this had to be done within fifteen seconds of the incision. Still, for many years, the meter was in wide use and widely trusted.

The latest meter - the one you have - the XS, is a more recent meter - the latest and greatest from Roche. It has quality controls built into the strips. The strips are different from the ones used for the CoaguChek S and CoaguChek meters. There's an area on both sides of the strip that can suck the blood from the finger using capillary action, making it easier to do a test with the XS than with the S.

Each of the meter manufacturers have come out with newer models of their previously very functional and usable meters. ITC developed the ProTime 3, and this model followed the 'classic' ProTime by a few years. Hemosense updated the InRatio with the InRatio 2. Are they better than the earlier models? Probably. They're certainly better for the manufacturers who sell new meters to replace the older models. (In fairness to Roche, they've upgraded some CoaguChek S meters with CoaguChek XS meters, but I don't know the specifics of the upgrades - it's possible Roche may be losing some money on the deal - but if they're upgrading a meter that has already been used for hundreds of tests, they made the money on the strips - and they'll undoubtedly be making more on the new XS strips).

For now, I still have probably 30 or so of the strips for the CoaguChek S - expiring in June, and I'll probably continue 'trying' to do a successful test between now and then. I'm not holding out hope that Roche will upgrade my new meter - and I don't think I'll try to convince them that this should be done. Although I wouldn't mind eventually trying an XS or an InRatio, my current ProTime meter, with quality controls in the strip, and my CoaguChek S will do for me in the future what they did for thousands of others in the past -- in the days before there was a CoaguChek XS or an InRatio 2 -- continue to provide good, fast, accurate results.
 
Last edited:
No, you don't understand.
My "S" broke down while still under warranty. The "XS" was on the market, I knew it was easier to use so paid for it. Roche would have supplied a replacement "S" without charge. Had my "S" not broken down it would not have been replaced until it did. We paid in full for the "XS" and all strips. Our universal health insurance pays in full for lab/veinous draws. Heaven knows, how happy I was to get the "S".

Protimenow said:
OHHH, NOW I UNDERSTAND.

EVERYONE HERE WHO HAD A COAGUCHEK S immediately tossed their meters in the trash the minute a new one came out to replace it, and they ALL got an instant, free upgrade to an XS. Right? The CoaguChek S, that seemed to work okay until a newer model came out, instantly became unusable -- and anyone who still had one became a valid target for ridicule.

And, for someone who can't afford an XS or an InRatio2, it's better to not have a meter at all than to get a CoaguChek S. Let this worthless, useless, person die if he can't buy the latest and greatest. Right? (Fortunately, I have a ProTime and ProTime 3 -- perhaps not quite as new as the XS or InRatio 2 - but still supported by the company, the ProTime 3 is still their latest and greatest, but, of course, not YOUR favorite - so I don't have to use that crappy, obsolete CoaguChek S.) And, of course, because I bought the CoaguChek S - new, in the box, from a vendor on eBay (AND NOT FROM EBAY, AS YOU WROTE), it's of no value.

And everyone who used this worthless, obsolete CoaguChek S meter got amnesia about how they may have been able to coax the drop of blood from finger to strip, so they couldn't possibly have provided any advice to a poor sucker with that old, worthless, crappy meter. Funny, I've seen lots of advice about other issues - but I guess one about an 'obsolete' meter, purchased on eBay, is below the threshold. And, because I admitted to buying this meter on eBay, it further pushes the idea of being worthy of getting any responses - other than ridicule - even farther below the horizon.

And, I guess because I was stupid enough to get an S, rather than an XS, I don't even deserve the courtesy of a reply - other than a string of insults or jokes at my expense.

Being lucky enough to live long enough to get on Medicare, and get a meter and testing partially subsized; or being able to have medical insurance that will pay for a newer meter and supplies; or merely being financially solid enough to handle these things yourself certainly gives you absolute superiority over others who may not have those benefits. My goal is still to somehow set things up so that people who aren't as fortunate (or arrogant) as you apparently are - who can't afford their own meters and testing - and who are prime candidates for stroke or bleeding out - to be tested and managed, regardless of income. These are the kind of people you'd probably walk past on the street, because you've all got your own meters, and are obviously superior.

GO AHEAD AND LAUGH.

Lets make this public, instead of being civil enough to use e-Mail.

I thought I had made it through this B.S. without being attacked -- but obviously kids will be kids.

I expected little less from you, Bina. It's the other children who surprised me.
Click to expand...
 
Lance:

What you didn't get from my somewhat heated message was that I was responding to a couple messages ridiculing me for buying a CoaguChek S -- an 'obsolete' meter; and for suggesting on another thread that if someone has something to say, it should be done with private messaging rather than making them look like fools on a public forum.

I'm happy for you, now that you have an XS. The point I was making was that it seemed that, because I bought an S (and not an XS), I was somewhat undeserving of any advice on how to get a good drop of blood onto the strips. The same people that ridiculed me in other threads did it here, again, and this was what I responded to. I've gotten kind of tired of these juvenile, pointless attacks.

In a perfect world, EVERYONE who takes an anticoagulant - regardless of insurance, regardless of social standing, regardless of politicial affiliation and regardless of income - would be able to get their anticoagulation management, or a meter and supplies, if they're able to do self-management. My critics don't seem to share my view and have attacked me a number of times. I'd sure like to help create that 'perfect' situation - where anyone taking an anticoagulant can get monitored and managed, regardless of those factors I've already listed. This idea, I guess, is perhaps too left-wing or socialist for some people to accept.

(And, just like you were happy to get the S, and probably happier still with the XS, I was elated to get my first meter, and an upgrade, plus my CoaguChek S, too, so I can do my own monitoring and management)
 
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