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Hank said:
When I test, I have 1 ProTime machine, 2 INRatio machines, and 1 cardiochek machine all layed out in front of me.

Hmm, now I wonder which machine he listens too? :confused: :p
 
Today..I had my annual visit with my PCP....When he walked in.the first thing he asked me..How do you still like your Protime?..Long story, short..this is the Doctor that was on call at hospital 5 years ago..On xmas day..when I was feeling poorly...the one that followed me for 3 months..Until the Cardio found my aneurysm....this PCP I have seen now for 5 years..every 6 months...Has now a large practice..Yet..he does all my labs, ect.and knows my medical history upside/down:D Things are all ways normall. B/P..lab work, ect. so today..it was more of a fun chat...He told me..the reason I'm asking ..I am now seeing more patients with valve problems.And a young man came in the other day..worried about the fact that he has NO choice..but a mechancal valve..and remembered ME.My doctor told him..I have an old:p Lady that home tests....now for over 5 years..doing great..He told him..try to get a home-tester..I asked my doctor..will you sign off for him? he said YES...I see you every 6 months..and you are doing great with coumadin.(even tho my Cardio scripts my Warfarin).....Doctor said, Bonnie, how old is your Protime? 3 years. he was shocked when I said, no 5 years..:D ...And still doing great (protime).he asked me the cost. I said, $2,000? 5 years ago. he said, bought my protime for $1,000..laughed and said, sure..you are a doctor..:p ..Point made..Talk to your PCP's, ect..get the news out there about home-testing.:D Bonnie
 
Several drops from one stick

Several drops from one stick

Hi Hank,

My monitor instructions are to use the first drop only because coagulation is taking place and blood must be administered within 15 seconds. Sometimes the first drop has missed the target and I've used the second drop anyway. Bad me.

You use the same puncture for several tests. Does this result in much of a discreptancy from test 1-3? Just wondering.
 
My instructions from my first machine, ProTime, was to wipe away the first drop of blood so you aren't using a drop with alcohol or soap residue in it that could mess with the results. So I still wipe away the first drop.
 
lance said:
Hi Hank,

My monitor instructions are to use the first drop only because coagulation is taking place and blood must be administered within 15 seconds.

I don't understand about using only the first drop ... I understand about having a time limit on getting the sample into the cup or testing device, but only using the first drop?????
 
First blood drop

First blood drop

Catwoman,

Yup, instructions say "Apply the blood to the test strip within 15 seconds of lancing the fingertip. Applying blood after this period would falsify the result, as the coagulation process would already have begun". That's always something I have wondered about, too. It does seem a little draconian. If the coagulation process has already begun in a matter of seconds why are physicians so concerned about bleeding? I have noticed the longer the finger has been pricked, the freer the blood flows. We're not supposed to prick the finger until the beep is heard and the countdown begins.

Thanks for your input--you have started me thinking things over.

Karlynn--that's interesting--wipe away the first drop. In my instructions somewhere it mentions that alcohol residue will affect the results. I've never bothered about it because I soak my fingers drying them, of course, prior to testing.

I'm feeling better about things.

Probably different monitors have different requirements. Does anyone else have the 15 second time requirement. I've always wondered about that because the count down is 120 seconds and if there is not enough blood by that time a new test has to be performed.
 
warfarin

warfarin

briansmom said:
I do not have my unit yet, but the folks from QAS have been very responsive. the rep even called me today because the doc did not word the prescription correctly. She said that my unit would be in the mail as soon as they got the right scrip.
can any one tell me how to get the machine to test my owne blood (Ross removed email address as it is not safe to do in public.)
 

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