Ross
Well-known member
The HemoSense INRatio Monitor:A Review
What you get in the starter kit:
Carrying case that measures 9?L x 9?W x 3?H
The INRatio Monitor unit
4 AA Batteries
A lancet device
Lancets
Alcohol swabs
Gauze pads
Quick start reference card
Users Guide
Patients results log
1 year limited warranty
In addition, you will need:
Test strips
Home sharps container
Optional Items that can be purchased:
AC Adaptor
Printer
The carrying tote is a nice little feature. It is finished with a velvety felt type, dark blue material and seems fairly durable. It has 2 zippers with which to open and close the tote along with a handle to carry it. It holds the monitor securely, but your supplies will be all over the place unless you secure them in something other then the compartments that are in the case. There is a zippered pouch that folds over the compartments however, if there is anything causing the pouch to swell out a bit, you?ll never get the cover closed or at the very least, you?ll crush whatever is in the compartments or the pouch. I also found out while taking the unit with me to the Coumadin Clinic, that you should not store the users guide inside the case. What happens is that it crosses the keypad area of the meter and there is a molding drop down built into the case which holds the meter in it?s compartment very securely, but add something like the users manual and there is no clearance between that drop and the keypad. I found the unit to have been powered on for the duration of that trip. DOH!
The test strips
You get a box of 12 strips with each box containing a strip code. This code is used as a calibration reference for the meter. Each strip has 3 channels. 1 low control channel, 1 blood testing channel, and 1 high control channel. As you can see, the controls are built into each strip. The strips come in a foil sealed pouch containing Argon gas and a little container of desiccant to absorb moisture. The strips should be stored between 35F and 45F until the expiration date on the box. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 90 days or the expiration date, which comes first. Once opened, the strip must be used within 10 minutes. The reagents used in the strips are recombinant thromboplastin, stabilizers and preservatives. The control channels have human, plasma extracted coagulation factors and buffers to yield predetermined clotting times for high and low controls. This gives the strips an ISI of 1. The strips and the meter use a electrochemical form of testing rather then photo testing. Changes in the impedance are measured and detected by the meter and converted to PT/INR readings.
The meter
The meter itself measures 6.25?L x 3?W at it?s widest point x 2.25?H and fits nicely in the palm of the hand though that is not how you test with it. Total weight is just 11.5oz Operating conditions are Temperature between 65F and 95F and Humidity between 10 and 85% without condensation. The unit stores the last 60 tests in memory for review.
Setting up the meter and testing
Once you put the batteries in, you can start the meter by pressing any button. The meter will first do a self test and then prompt to insert strip. The first thing you want to do is go to the menu and get the meter set up. You can set the Time and Date using either a 12 or 24 hour clock system, have the meter show PT and INR or INR only, you can configure it for your desired range, but if your out of range a lot, this can be aggravating so I left it disabled, choose whether to print or no printer, and set the language or which you have English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish to choose from. Once you have the meter set up, it?s ready to go. You need only run this set up the first time. It is a remembered function.
Running the tests
Get a strip out of the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature for 5 minutes or so before testing. Meanwhile, gather everything else you need and prepare your finger for the finger stick. Once your ready and the strip has had time to warm up, push any button to turn the meter on. It will energize and perform the self test. When it completes the self test, it will say ?Insert Strip?. Once inserted, the machine will ask about the strip code. If the code does not match what?s on the strip pouch, you must use the buttons to change the code on the machine to match. Once you?ve got that done, the machine will say ?Warming?. Take this opportunity to get your finger and lancet device where you want it. When the machine is ready, it will say ?Apply Sample?. Lance your finger and use the first hanging drop of blood and apply it to the strip well. The machine will appear to be doing nothing for a couple of seconds until the blood fills the channels, then it will say ?Testing?. If all goes well, you?ll have your results in about 2 minutes or less. Should the machine give an error code, you need to write it down as the machine does not store errors or error results. You?ll need that when you call support. If you should get a Quality Control error, you must start over with a new strip and another finger stick. If you miss the well with the sample or don?t apply enough of a sample, you must begin again with a new strip and new finger stick.
All in all, I?m very happy with this monitor. I took it and tested it against my Coumadin Clinics Coaguchek unit and against an ITC Protime unit though at this time, I have yet to test against a lab draw. There is a .6 tolerance allowance between readings. The results of the Coaguchek with ISI of 2 and the INRatio with its ISI of 1 was:
Coagucheck 3.3 vs. INRatio 2.6 which is a .7 difference. Still don?t know what the deal was there, but since both readings were within my acceptable range, we chose not to worry about it.
ITC Protime 3.0 vs. INRatio 2.9 which is a .1 difference.
Very little blood is needed to run the test (15uL) I almost look forward to sticking myself every week. You need only the very first hanging drop of blood. The unit is as small as it gets and the strips also are very small. The only thing I?ve messed up on is applying the blood sample. For some reason, my hanging drop likes to hit the rim of the well and go around it rather then on and in it. So long as you get that blood in the well, there is no trouble. I have no trouble recommending this unit to anyone thinking of home testing. I think you will be pleased and it just doesn?t get any easier.
The unit is offered by our very own QAS for anyone interested in receiving more information or wishing to obtain the unit.
Contact Mike George at QAS HemoSense Division at 1-800-563-5680 Extension 2402
What you get in the starter kit:
Carrying case that measures 9?L x 9?W x 3?H
The INRatio Monitor unit
4 AA Batteries
A lancet device
Lancets
Alcohol swabs
Gauze pads
Quick start reference card
Users Guide
Patients results log
1 year limited warranty
In addition, you will need:
Test strips
Home sharps container
Optional Items that can be purchased:
AC Adaptor
Printer
The carrying tote is a nice little feature. It is finished with a velvety felt type, dark blue material and seems fairly durable. It has 2 zippers with which to open and close the tote along with a handle to carry it. It holds the monitor securely, but your supplies will be all over the place unless you secure them in something other then the compartments that are in the case. There is a zippered pouch that folds over the compartments however, if there is anything causing the pouch to swell out a bit, you?ll never get the cover closed or at the very least, you?ll crush whatever is in the compartments or the pouch. I also found out while taking the unit with me to the Coumadin Clinic, that you should not store the users guide inside the case. What happens is that it crosses the keypad area of the meter and there is a molding drop down built into the case which holds the meter in it?s compartment very securely, but add something like the users manual and there is no clearance between that drop and the keypad. I found the unit to have been powered on for the duration of that trip. DOH!
The test strips
You get a box of 12 strips with each box containing a strip code. This code is used as a calibration reference for the meter. Each strip has 3 channels. 1 low control channel, 1 blood testing channel, and 1 high control channel. As you can see, the controls are built into each strip. The strips come in a foil sealed pouch containing Argon gas and a little container of desiccant to absorb moisture. The strips should be stored between 35F and 45F until the expiration date on the box. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 90 days or the expiration date, which comes first. Once opened, the strip must be used within 10 minutes. The reagents used in the strips are recombinant thromboplastin, stabilizers and preservatives. The control channels have human, plasma extracted coagulation factors and buffers to yield predetermined clotting times for high and low controls. This gives the strips an ISI of 1. The strips and the meter use a electrochemical form of testing rather then photo testing. Changes in the impedance are measured and detected by the meter and converted to PT/INR readings.
The meter
The meter itself measures 6.25?L x 3?W at it?s widest point x 2.25?H and fits nicely in the palm of the hand though that is not how you test with it. Total weight is just 11.5oz Operating conditions are Temperature between 65F and 95F and Humidity between 10 and 85% without condensation. The unit stores the last 60 tests in memory for review.
Setting up the meter and testing
Once you put the batteries in, you can start the meter by pressing any button. The meter will first do a self test and then prompt to insert strip. The first thing you want to do is go to the menu and get the meter set up. You can set the Time and Date using either a 12 or 24 hour clock system, have the meter show PT and INR or INR only, you can configure it for your desired range, but if your out of range a lot, this can be aggravating so I left it disabled, choose whether to print or no printer, and set the language or which you have English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish to choose from. Once you have the meter set up, it?s ready to go. You need only run this set up the first time. It is a remembered function.
Running the tests
Get a strip out of the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature for 5 minutes or so before testing. Meanwhile, gather everything else you need and prepare your finger for the finger stick. Once your ready and the strip has had time to warm up, push any button to turn the meter on. It will energize and perform the self test. When it completes the self test, it will say ?Insert Strip?. Once inserted, the machine will ask about the strip code. If the code does not match what?s on the strip pouch, you must use the buttons to change the code on the machine to match. Once you?ve got that done, the machine will say ?Warming?. Take this opportunity to get your finger and lancet device where you want it. When the machine is ready, it will say ?Apply Sample?. Lance your finger and use the first hanging drop of blood and apply it to the strip well. The machine will appear to be doing nothing for a couple of seconds until the blood fills the channels, then it will say ?Testing?. If all goes well, you?ll have your results in about 2 minutes or less. Should the machine give an error code, you need to write it down as the machine does not store errors or error results. You?ll need that when you call support. If you should get a Quality Control error, you must start over with a new strip and another finger stick. If you miss the well with the sample or don?t apply enough of a sample, you must begin again with a new strip and new finger stick.
All in all, I?m very happy with this monitor. I took it and tested it against my Coumadin Clinics Coaguchek unit and against an ITC Protime unit though at this time, I have yet to test against a lab draw. There is a .6 tolerance allowance between readings. The results of the Coaguchek with ISI of 2 and the INRatio with its ISI of 1 was:
Coagucheck 3.3 vs. INRatio 2.6 which is a .7 difference. Still don?t know what the deal was there, but since both readings were within my acceptable range, we chose not to worry about it.
ITC Protime 3.0 vs. INRatio 2.9 which is a .1 difference.
Very little blood is needed to run the test (15uL) I almost look forward to sticking myself every week. You need only the very first hanging drop of blood. The unit is as small as it gets and the strips also are very small. The only thing I?ve messed up on is applying the blood sample. For some reason, my hanging drop likes to hit the rim of the well and go around it rather then on and in it. So long as you get that blood in the well, there is no trouble. I have no trouble recommending this unit to anyone thinking of home testing. I think you will be pleased and it just doesn?t get any easier.
The unit is offered by our very own QAS for anyone interested in receiving more information or wishing to obtain the unit.
Contact Mike George at QAS HemoSense Division at 1-800-563-5680 Extension 2402
