I have been using an Alphatrak2 on Izzy since he was diagnosed in January (now in remission). My vet prefers it (and directed me to mail order) and the blood take is minute. I have a couple of the units and had been alternating. Lately I notice Izzy is nearer the top end of normal range more often than not. Both units are coded properly (37), both tested with the same control solution. Last week Izzie popped up to a 176 reading. He hadn't seen my vet in a few months so I brought him in (he was acting punk as well). His BS was in the 130s, a couple of hours after eating? All of his other numbers were in normal range.
I normally test every 5 days or so. I pushed up the schedule and noticed that the two glucometer a were off by quite a bit. Oddly if I switched the vials of strips, the numbers became close.
Today unit 1 w/vial 1 ..67, unit 2 w/vial 2 ..101. Reverse the identically coded vials the units read 119 and 123, respectively. As a reference point, a Bayer Contour yielded a reading of 89.
When I called Zoetis, all they wanted was to talk with my vets office. I wanted to send in my two units and let them sort it out. The conversation degenerated from there. In order to monitor Izzie accuracy and reliable results are most important. While I like the Alphatrak more than the Contour, the randomness bothers me.
That's my whine for the day. There are far more serious threads here, I know. But there is potential for trouble here.
I normally test every 5 days or so. I pushed up the schedule and noticed that the two glucometer a were off by quite a bit. Oddly if I switched the vials of strips, the numbers became close.
Today unit 1 w/vial 1 ..67, unit 2 w/vial 2 ..101. Reverse the identically coded vials the units read 119 and 123, respectively. As a reference point, a Bayer Contour yielded a reading of 89.
When I called Zoetis, all they wanted was to talk with my vets office. I wanted to send in my two units and let them sort it out. The conversation degenerated from there. In order to monitor Izzie accuracy and reliable results are most important. While I like the Alphatrak more than the Contour, the randomness bothers me.
That's my whine for the day. There are far more serious threads here, I know. But there is potential for trouble here.
