Difference in meter readings

[Patch]

Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing supplies.
The meter is a Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips
& lancets. I thought it would be nice to keep an extra meter
a work, so I used it as a test & then decided to use my One-
Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-Touch was 30 points
higher. I knew they wouldn't be the same, but 30 points is
quite a bit. Can anyone explain the higher reading on the
One-Touch? Do they use the same method of blood testing?
(whole blood or glucose) The instruction sheet that came
with the meter is pretty skimpy.

Thanks

[Tiger Lily]

use up the test strips knowing that there is a difference
are the test strips in date?? and not expired??

once you use up the test strips, call the 800 number on the
back of your Ultra and get a trade in for the Medisense

i don't know if Medisense has got better over the years, but
i walked away from their highly inaccurate meters 16 yrs ago

kate
--
Join us in the Diabetic-Talk Chatroom on UnderNet
/server irc.undernet.org --- /join #Diabetic-Talk More
info: http://www.diabetic-talk.org/

"Patch" <bob_acord@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:EsBEc.29455$rh.22790@okepread02...
> Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
> supplies. The meter is
a
> Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips & lancets. I
> thought it
would
> be nice to keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as a
> test & then
decided
> to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-
> Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be the
> same, but 30 points is quite a bit.
Can
> anyone explain the higher reading on the One-Touch? Do
> they use the same method of blood testing? (whole blood or
> glucose) The instruction sheet
that
> came with the meter is pretty skimpy.
>
> Thanks

[Priscilla H Bal]

Patch <bob_acord@hotmail.com> quoth:
>Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
>supplies. The meter is a Medisense 3, along with about
>300 test strips & lancets. I thought it would be nice to
>keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as a test & then
>decided to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My
>One-Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be
>the same, but 30 points is quite a bit. Can anyone
>explain the higher reading on the One-Touch? Do they use
>the same method of blood testing? (whole blood or
>glucose) The instruction sheet that came with the meter
>is pretty skimpy.

How hold is the Medisense? It may be reporting the results
in terms of whole blood glucose instead of plasma glucose.
See: http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/education/library/mete-
rs02.shtml

Priscilla
--
"Come to Planet Earth! Watch people with brains not use
them! Several shows daily! Free admittance!" Keera Ann Fox
in alt.support.menopause

[Bay Area Dave]

Patch wrote:

> Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
> supplies. The meter is a Medisense 3, along with about
> 300 test strips & lancets. I thought it would be nice to
> keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as a test & then
> decided to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My
> One-Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be
> the same, but 30 points is quite a bit. Can anyone
> explain the higher reading on the One-Touch? Do they use
> the same method of blood testing? (whole blood or
> glucose) The instruction sheet that came with the meter
> is pretty skimpy.
>
> Thanks
>
>
trade the medisense in on an Ultra or UltraSmart. It's more
accurate than the Medisense. they suck!

dave

[Guy]

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:22:50 GMT, Bay Area Dave <itsme@nn.com> wrote:

>Patch wrote:
>
>> Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
>> supplies. The meter is a Medisense 3, along with about
>> 300 test strips & lancets. I thought it would be nice to
>> keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as a test & then
>> decided to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My
>> One-Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be
>> the same, but 30 points is quite a bit. Can anyone
>> explain the higher reading on the One-Touch? Do they use
>> the same method of blood testing? (whole blood or
>> glucose) The instruction sheet that came with the meter
>> is pretty skimpy.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
>trade the medisense in on an Ultra or UltraSmart. It's more
>accurate than the Medisense. they suck!
>
>dave

Dave I am using the Accu- chek compact more and more. The
blood pickup system of the Ultra is hard to beat. Their
strip containers suck.

The Ultra's blood pickup is superior and is less likely to
pickup contaminated blood..

I am surprised at the consistency of the reading
comparison of the two meters. Very close over a wide range
of blood sugars.

If I had good eye sight and hands I would probably stay with
the Ultra. Most new meters seem to be better as far as meter
consistency.

Now if we could get a price war going. No chance with
medical items. Guy

[Patch]

"Bay Area Dave" <itsme@nn.com> wrote in message
news:KaGEc.6433$S9.2095@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com...
> Patch wrote:
>
> > Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
> > supplies. The meter
is a
> > Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips & lancets.
> > I thought it
would
> > be nice to keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as a
> > test & then
decided
> > to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-
> > Touch was 30
points
> > higher. I knew they wouldn't be the same, but 30 points
> > is quite a bit.
Can
> > anyone explain the higher reading on the One-Touch? Do
> > they use the same method of blood testing? (whole blood
> > or glucose) The instruction sheet
that
> > came with the meter is pretty skimpy.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >
> trade the medisense in on an Ultra or UltraSmart. It's
> more accurate than the Medisense. they suck!
>
> dave
>
I found out that the One-Touch reads plasma & the Medisense
reads whole blood, hence the difference.

[Ann]

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:22:50 GMT, Bay Area Dave <itsme@nn.com> wrote:

>Patch wrote:
>
>> Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
>> supplies. The meter is
a
>> Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips & lancets.
>> I thought it
would
>> be nice to keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as a
>> test & then
decided
>> to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-
>> Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be the
>> same, but 30 points is quite a bit.
Can
>> anyone explain the higher reading on the One-Touch?

My One touch ultra also gives 30 point higher readings than
my Freestyle so I quit using it. I know my freestyle is
correct by my HBA1C results of 4.7. My one touch kept
telling me I was out of control; newer strips didn't help. I
think they put out some bad apples now and then, probably
just a fluke. I do like the much smaller blood drop I can
use with the freestyle, and I take it from my shoulders,
though I have to slap or pinch or rub them to get a drop. I
found that forearm testing made hickeys all over, but
shoulders don't do it near as bad and if they do, it doesn't
show. For a hypo always go for the hands for accuracy. Ann

[Bay Area Dave]

Patch wrote:

> "Bay Area Dave" <itsme@nn.com> wrote in message
> news:KaGEc.6433$S9.2095@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com...
>
>>Patch wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
>>>supplies. The meter
>
> is a
>
>>>Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips & lancets.
>>>I thought it
>
> would
>
>>>be nice to keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as a
>>>test & then
>
> decided
>
>>>to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-
>>>Touch was 30
>
> points
>
>>>higher. I knew they wouldn't be the same, but 30 points
>>>is quite a bit.
>
> Can
>
>>>anyone explain the higher reading on the One-Touch? Do
>>>they use the same method of blood testing? (whole blood
>>>or glucose) The instruction sheet
>
> that
>
>>>came with the meter is pretty skimpy.
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>
>>trade the medisense in on an Ultra or UltraSmart. It's
>>more accurate than the Medisense. they suck!
>>
>>dave
>>
>
> I found out that the One-Touch reads plasma & the
> Medisense reads whole blood, hence the difference.
>
>
the older Lifescan's also were calibrated to whole blood;
about 12% lower than the new ones like the Ultra. I prefer
the newer calibrated ones.

dave

[Bay Area Dave]

Ann wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:22:50 GMT, Bay Area Dave
> <itsme@nn.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Patch wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
>>>supplies. The meter is
>
> a
>
>>>Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips & lancets.
>>>I thought it
>
> would
>
>>>be nice to keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as a
>>>test & then
>
> decided
>
>>>to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-
>>>Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be the
>>>same, but 30 points is quite a bit.
>
> Can
>
>>>anyone explain the higher reading on the One-Touch?
>
>
> My One touch ultra also gives 30 point higher readings
> than my Freestyle so I quit using it. I know my freestyle
> is correct by my HBA1C results of 4.7. My one touch kept
> telling me I was out of control; newer strips didn't help.
> I think they put out some bad apples now and then,
> probably just a fluke. I do like the much smaller blood
> drop I can use with the freestyle, and I take it from my
> shoulders, though I have to slap or pinch or rub them to
> get a drop. I found that forearm testing made hickeys all
> over, but shoulders don't do it near as bad and if they
> do, it doesn't show. For a hypo always go for the hands
> for accuracy. Ann
>
>
your experience with those 2 meters run contrary to the
typical issue of the Freestyle meters reading inaccurately
HIGH. The newer Lifescan meters such as Ultra, UltraSmart,
the slightly older FastTake and SureStep, correlate very
well with lab results. Apparently YOUR mileage suffered
drastically! :)

dave

dave

[Pinecone]

"Ann" <Ann@ixpres.com> wrote in message news:<40e51e98_1@news.vic.com>...
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:22:50 GMT, Bay Area Dave
> <itsme@nn.com> wrote:
>
> >Patch wrote:
> >
> >> Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
> >> supplies. The meter is
> a
> >> Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips &
> >> lancets. I thought it
> would
> >> be nice to keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as
> >> a test & then
> decided
> >> to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-
> >> Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be the
> >> same, but 30 points is quite a bit.
> Can
> >> anyone explain the higher reading on the One-Touch?
>
> My One touch ultra also gives 30 point higher readings
> than my Freestyle so I quit using it. I know my freestyle
> is correct by my HBA1C results of 4.7. My one touch kept
> telling me I was out of control; newer strips didn't help.
> I think they put out some bad apples now and then,
> probably just a fluke. I do like the much smaller blood
> drop I can use with the freestyle, and I take it from my
> shoulders, though I have to slap or pinch or rub them to
> get a drop. I found that forearm testing made hickeys all
> over, but shoulders don't do it near as bad and if they
> do, it doesn't show. For a hypo always go for the hands
> for accuracy. Ann

My office-mate steared me away from the One Touch Ultra for
the same reasons, and I went with the slightly larger
Freestyle because of the screensize! But when I opened the
box, the 10 "free" strips that came in my box were one day
out of date (the test solution was fine), so I called the
company, and they immediately rushed me new ones. I imagine
most people like the really tiny one, if they can see it!
Thanks for the hint about shoulders. I'll definitely try it.

--pinecone

[Hle]

"Bay Area Dave" <itsme@nn.com> wrote in message
news:K5EFc.6037$AC5.3600@newssvr25.news.prodigy.com...
> the older Lifescan's also were calibrated to whole blood;
> about 12% lower than the new ones like the Ultra. I prefer
> the newer calibrated ones.

Dave's post is critically important! Some meters show
glucose refered to WHOLE BLOOD, some to PLASMA. The
difference is ~15%.

On the same sample, a meter that reflects milligrams of
glucose per deciliter of WHOLE BLOOD might read 100, while
another meter that references bg to PLASMA might read 115.
Both are correct. At these levels, the difference isn't
important. However, the difference between 200 and 230 is
very important, etc.

Regrettably, the meter itself doesn't say which sort it is
- you have to read the instructions, or call the 800
number and ask!

Henry

[Bay Area Dave]

pinecone wrote:

> "Ann" <Ann@ixpres.com> wrote in message
> news:<40e51e98_1@news.vic.com>...
>
>>On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:22:50 GMT, Bay Area Dave
>><itsme@nn.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Patch wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
>>>>supplies. The meter is
>>
>> a
>>
>>>>Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips & lancets.
>>>>I thought it
>>
>> would
>>
>>>>be nice to keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as a
>>>>test & then
>>
>> decided
>>
>>>>to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-
>>>>Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be the
>>>>same, but 30 points is quite a bit.
>>
>> Can
>>
>>>>anyone explain the higher reading on the One-Touch?
>>
>>My One touch ultra also gives 30 point higher readings
>>than my Freestyle so I quit using it. I know my freestyle
>>is correct by my HBA1C results of 4.7. My one touch kept
>>telling me I was out of control; newer strips didn't help.
>>I think they put out some bad apples now and then,
>>probably just a fluke. I do like the much smaller blood
>>drop I can use with the freestyle, and I take it from my
>>shoulders, though I have to slap or pinch or rub them to
>>get a drop. I found that forearm testing made hickeys all
>>over, but shoulders don't do it near as bad and if they
>>do, it doesn't show. For a hypo always go for the hands
>>for accuracy. Ann
>
>
> My office-mate steared me away from the One Touch Ultra
> for the same reasons, and I went with the slightly larger
> Freestyle because of the screensize! But when I opened the
> box, the 10 "free" strips that came in my box were one day
> out of date (the test solution was fine), so I called the
> company, and they immediately rushed me new ones. I
> imagine most people like the really tiny one, if they can
> see it! Thanks for the hint about shoulders. I'll
> definitely try it.
>
> --pinecone
I pity you for your ignorance. The LifeScan meters are used
by all those who have tried them "all". Hope you don't screw
up your control by using a flaky meter. I had a Medisense
meter for ONE day that darn near did me in with an
erroneously high reading; I took insulin to reduce the false
high bg. MAJOR HYPO!

Lifescan meters nowadays read approx 12% higher than the
older meters in order to more closely match lab results. IN
actuality, they PERFORM ADMIRABLY in matching lab numbers.

Your post is the sort of thing that gets me upset at the mis-
information on the 'net AND in your case from a well
meaning, but ill-informed co-worker.

You'll never know you are getting consistently lower
readings if you get used to matching up your physical
symptoms to those of an incorrectly calibrated meter. GOOD
LUCK. sigh...

dave

[Pinecone]

Bay Area Dave <itsme@nn.com> wrote in message news:<y1gFc.7484$GM.7340@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com>...
> pinecone wrote:
>
> > "Ann" <Ann@ixpres.com> wrote in message
> > news:<40e51e98_1@news.vic.com>...
> >
> >>On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:22:50 GMT, Bay Area Dave
> >><itsme@nn.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Patch wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
> >>>>supplies. The meter is
> >>
> >> a
> >>
> >>>>Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips &
> >>>>lancets. I thought it
> >>
> >> would
> >>
> >>>>be nice to keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as
> >>>>a test & then
> >>
> >> decided
> >>
> >>>>to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-
> >>>>Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be
> >>>>the same, but 30 points is quite a bit.
> >>
> >> Can
> >>
> >>>>anyone explain the higher reading on the One-Touch?
> >>
> >>My One touch ultra also gives 30 point higher readings
> >>than my Freestyle so I quit using it. I know my
> >>freestyle is correct by my HBA1C results of 4.7. My one
> >>touch kept telling me I was out of control; newer strips
> >>didn't help. I think they put out some bad apples now
> >>and then, probably just a fluke. I do like the much
> >>smaller blood drop I can use with the freestyle, and I
> >>take it from my shoulders, though I have to slap or
> >>pinch or rub them to get a drop. I found that forearm
> >>testing made hickeys all over, but shoulders don't do it
> >>near as bad and if they do, it doesn't show. For a hypo
> >>always go for the hands for accuracy. Ann
> >
> >
> > My office-mate steared me away from the One Touch Ultra
> > for the same reasons, and I went with the slightly
> > larger Freestyle because of the screensize! But when I
> > opened the box, the 10 "free" strips that came in my box
> > were one day out of date (the test solution was fine),
> > so I called the company, and they immediately rushed me
> > new ones. I imagine most people like the really tiny
> > one, if they can see it! Thanks for the hint about
> > shoulders. I'll definitely try it.
> >
> > --pinecone
> I pity you for your ignorance. The LifeScan meters are
> used by all those who have tried them "all". Hope you
> don't screw up your control by using a flaky meter. I had
> a Medisense meter for ONE day that darn near did me in
> with an erroneously high reading; I took insulin to reduce
> the false high bg. MAJOR HYPO!
>
> Lifescan meters nowadays read approx 12% higher than the
> older meters in order to more closely match lab results.
> IN actuality, they PERFORM ADMIRABLY in matching lab
> numbers.
>
> Your post is the sort of thing that gets me upset at the
> mis-information on the 'net AND in your case from a well
> meaning, but ill-informed co-worker.
>
> You'll never know you are getting consistently lower
> readings if you get used to matching up your physical
> symptoms to those of an incorrectly calibrated meter. GOOD
> LUCK. sigh...
>
> dave

Yes, I'm a newbie and just learning from talking to
others. Since all manufacturers apparently say to use
control solution and then retest when one has a very high
or low reading, I suspect all brands can potentially
produce a false reading (for various reasons). We do have
2 examples of people who switched after trying it. Since
my Freestyle and my Accu-Chek read almost identically, and
my doctor and diabetes educator are familiar with the Accu-
Chek, I feel very comfortable with both of mine. If you
want to share statistics, that would help newbies like me
a lot more than pity!

--pinecone

[Andrea]

In article <7f2c4ed0.0407022156.25cd399d@posting.google.com>, poodlebreeze@netscape.net (pinecone) wrote:
>If you want to share statistics, that would help newbies
>like me a lot more than pity!

Not statistics, but FYI the only time Consumer Reports
tested meters, they ranked the One Touch Ultra as number one
followed by the Accu-Chek Advantage and Freestyle. They were
primarily interested in consistency and accuracy. The added
advantage for me of the Ultra (or UltraSmart which is the
same meter with additional features) is the small amount of
blood required and quick response time.

--
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace...
where there is hatred, let me sow love.

remove "spamtrap" for e-mail

[Bay Area Dave]

pinecone wrote:

> Bay Area Dave <itsme@nn.com> wrote in message
> news:<y1gFc.7484$GM.7340@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com>...
>
>>pinecone wrote:
>>
>>
>>>"Ann" <Ann@ixpres.com> wrote in message
>>>news:<40e51e98_1@news.vic.com>...
>>>
>>>
>>>>On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:22:50 GMT, Bay Area Dave
>>>><itsme@nn.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Patch wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Yesterday, I was given my late Mother's BG testing
>>>>>>supplies. The meter is
>>>>
>>>>a
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>Medisense 3, along with about 300 test strips &
>>>>>>lancets. I thought it
>>>>
>>>>would
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>be nice to keep an extra meter a work, so I used it as
>>>>>>a test & then
>>>>
>>>>decided
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>to use my One-Touch Ultra to compare readings. My One-
>>>>>>Touch was 30 points higher. I knew they wouldn't be
>>>>>>the same, but 30 points is quite a bit.
>>>>
>>>>Can
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>anyone explain the higher reading on the One-Touch?
>>>>
>>>>My One touch ultra also gives 30 point higher readings
>>>>than my Freestyle so I quit using it. I know my
>>>>freestyle is correct by my HBA1C results of 4.7. My one
>>>>touch kept telling me I was out of control; newer strips
>>>>didn't help. I think they put out some bad apples now
>>>>and then, probably just a fluke. I do like the much
>>>>smaller blood drop I can use with the freestyle, and I
>>>>take it from my shoulders, though I have to slap or
>>>>pinch or rub them to get a drop. I found that forearm
>>>>testing made hickeys all over, but shoulders don't do it
>>>>near as bad and if they do, it doesn't show. For a hypo
>>>>always go for the hands for accuracy. Ann
>>>
>>>
>>>My office-mate steared me away from the One Touch Ultra
>>>for the same reasons, and I went with the slightly larger
>>>Freestyle because of the screensize! But when I opened
>>>the box, the 10 "free" strips that came in my box were
>>>one day out of date (the test solution was fine), so I
>>>called the company, and they immediately rushed me new
>>>ones. I imagine most people like the really tiny one, if
>>>they can see it! Thanks for the hint about shoulders.
>>>I'll definitely try it.
>>>
>>>--pinecone
>>
>>I pity you for your ignorance. The LifeScan meters are
>>used by all those who have tried them "all". Hope you
>>don't screw up your control by using a flaky meter. I had
>>a Medisense meter for ONE day that darn near did me in
>>with an erroneously high reading; I took insulin to reduce
>>the false high bg. MAJOR HYPO!
>>
>>Lifescan meters nowadays read approx 12% higher than the
>>older meters in order to more closely match lab results.
>>IN actuality, they PERFORM ADMIRABLY in matching lab
>>numbers.
>>
>>Your post is the sort of thing that gets me upset at the
>>mis-information on the 'net AND in your case from a well
>>meaning, but ill-informed co-worker.
>>
>>You'll never know you are getting consistently lower
>>readings if you get used to matching up your physical
>>symptoms to those of an incorrectly calibrated meter. GOOD
>>LUCK. sigh...
>>
>>dave
>
>
> Yes, I'm a newbie and just learning from talking to
> others. Since all manufacturers apparently say to use
> control solution and then retest when one has a very high
> or low reading, I suspect all brands can potentially
> produce a false reading (for various reasons). We do have
> 2 examples of people who switched after trying it. Since
> my Freestyle and my Accu-Chek read almost identically, and
> my doctor and diabetes educator are familiar with the Accu-
> Chek, I feel very comfortable with both of mine. If you
> want to share statistics, that would help newbies like me
> a lot more than pity!
>
> --pinecone
ok, here is a USEFUL suggestion: Google on meters and see
how many times DIFFERENT posters laud the Lifescan meters.
You'll find more folks urging others to get the Lifescan
(nowadays the Ultra or UltraSmart) than any other meter, by
a WIDE margin. I suggest you not be swayed by a FEW
comments, but go with the majority of long term diabetic's
opinion. In other words don't trust just MY word for it;
trust the collective wisdom of those who respond to requests
for opinions on the "best" meter.

dave

[Bay Area Dave]

Andrea wrote:

> In article
> <7f2c4ed0.0407022156.25cd399d@posting.google.com>,
> poodlebreeze@netscape.net (pinecone) wrote:
>
>>If you want to share statistics, that would help newbies
>>like me a lot more than pity!
>
>
> Not statistics, but FYI the only time Consumer Reports
> tested meters, they ranked the One Touch Ultra as number
> one followed by the Accu-Chek Advantage and Freestyle.
> They were primarily interested in consistency and
> accuracy. The added advantage for me of the Ultra (or
> UltraSmart which is the same meter with additional
> features) is the small amount of blood required and quick
> response time.
>
> --
> Lord, make me an instrument of your peace... where there
> is hatred, let me sow love.
>
> remove "spamtrap" for e-mail
yes; a mere 5 seconds! I love it!

dave