I have a CoaguChek XS and Coag-Sense meter, and a few years since I began using the Coag-Sense exclusively, I thought I may do another test of the CoaguChek XS to see how I feel about it now.
I bought two CoaguChek XS test strips, without checking the lot number, for $5 on eBay. I figured that this would at least get me a feel for the meter.
Surprisingly, when I powered it on, it still started after many years. The clock was 30 minutes off, but the meter powered on. I replaced the batteries, to improve the chance of doing a good test.
My first test was with the Coag-Sense PT2. I've used it many times before, incised my finger, used the transfer tube to draw blood into the tube, then deposit it onto the strip, and the test ran properly. My PT time was 39.8, and INR was 3.2.
I then inserted a CoaguChek XS strip into the CoaguChek XS. I'd forgotten, over the years, to press the M button on the meter to confirm the chip code. The user manual reminded me of this. After a period of warming up, the meter asked me to deposit blood onto the strip. I touched a newly incised finger, with a drop of blood, onto the side of the strip and got a 5 error - not enough blood. This was one of two strips that I had, shot to hell.
Apparently, transferring blood onto the CoaguChek XS strip wasn't quite as easy as I remembered it to be.
I decided to use a Coag-Sense transfer tube to collect and deposit the blood for my second test. I inserted the strip, confirmed the chip code, then waited until the meter asked for the blood, then incised my finger, collected blood with the transfer tube, and transferred the blood onto the CoaguChek XS strip. After a minute or so, the meter reported an INR of 6.5 and a prothrombin time of 77.6 seconds. This sure SEEMED like an error that last year's group of recalled XS strips would make. I checked on a recall list and found that the strips that were so cheap were part of the recalled lots.
I learned a few things:
Depositing blood onto the CoaguChek XS strip may not be easy for everyone. Some people do better using a capillary tube to draw the blood in from the finger, and to transfer it onto the strip. Taking this extra step is little different from the 'extra step' some Coag-Sense users have complained about on this forum.
The CoaguChek XS starts as soon as a strip is inserted, Coag-Sense takes a while longer before a test can be made.
CoaguChek XS meter batteries can last a LONG, LONG time.
I can't compare the readings of the two meters to each other because I had a bad batch of XS strips.
The Coag-Sense testing runs very smoothly, once you've done a test or two (which I had to do when I got my 'classic' meter years ago. It may take a bit of practice to use the transfer tube the first time or two that you test it - once you get the hang of it, testing is easy.
I'd like to, some day, get some new CoaguChek XS strips from a good lot and again run some comparison testing against the Coag-Sense. (If anybody here has some extras, with code strip, that they don't expect to use, I'd certainly like to try them).
I bought two CoaguChek XS test strips, without checking the lot number, for $5 on eBay. I figured that this would at least get me a feel for the meter.
Surprisingly, when I powered it on, it still started after many years. The clock was 30 minutes off, but the meter powered on. I replaced the batteries, to improve the chance of doing a good test.
My first test was with the Coag-Sense PT2. I've used it many times before, incised my finger, used the transfer tube to draw blood into the tube, then deposit it onto the strip, and the test ran properly. My PT time was 39.8, and INR was 3.2.
I then inserted a CoaguChek XS strip into the CoaguChek XS. I'd forgotten, over the years, to press the M button on the meter to confirm the chip code. The user manual reminded me of this. After a period of warming up, the meter asked me to deposit blood onto the strip. I touched a newly incised finger, with a drop of blood, onto the side of the strip and got a 5 error - not enough blood. This was one of two strips that I had, shot to hell.
Apparently, transferring blood onto the CoaguChek XS strip wasn't quite as easy as I remembered it to be.
I decided to use a Coag-Sense transfer tube to collect and deposit the blood for my second test. I inserted the strip, confirmed the chip code, then waited until the meter asked for the blood, then incised my finger, collected blood with the transfer tube, and transferred the blood onto the CoaguChek XS strip. After a minute or so, the meter reported an INR of 6.5 and a prothrombin time of 77.6 seconds. This sure SEEMED like an error that last year's group of recalled XS strips would make. I checked on a recall list and found that the strips that were so cheap were part of the recalled lots.
I learned a few things:
Depositing blood onto the CoaguChek XS strip may not be easy for everyone. Some people do better using a capillary tube to draw the blood in from the finger, and to transfer it onto the strip. Taking this extra step is little different from the 'extra step' some Coag-Sense users have complained about on this forum.
The CoaguChek XS starts as soon as a strip is inserted, Coag-Sense takes a while longer before a test can be made.
CoaguChek XS meter batteries can last a LONG, LONG time.
I can't compare the readings of the two meters to each other because I had a bad batch of XS strips.
The Coag-Sense testing runs very smoothly, once you've done a test or two (which I had to do when I got my 'classic' meter years ago. It may take a bit of practice to use the transfer tube the first time or two that you test it - once you get the hang of it, testing is easy.
I'd like to, some day, get some new CoaguChek XS strips from a good lot and again run some comparison testing against the Coag-Sense. (If anybody here has some extras, with code strip, that they don't expect to use, I'd certainly like to try them).