Is it worth buying an INR self testing kit ?

[RainingCatz]

After a review with my cardiologist, I am staying on my heart tablets and Warfarin. I only go into fast AF a few times over the year, but there are heart problems in the family and my sister had blood clots in her early 20s. Is it worth getting an inr self testing kit ?

[rupert12]

Personally I would not bother, if you attend a Warfarin clinic, I only go once a month now, but it is reassuring that if I go in AF I am hopefully covered. I also find that the nurses are quick to pick up any other problems that you may have relating to your heart and Warfarin, something that you would not get if you self tested. When I go to the Dentist or Chiropodist I have to show my yellow book as proof of my INR levels. Anyway, good luck!

[TheStand]

RainingCatz,

I have been using the Phillips home INR machine for about 6 months now. I had to drive about 25 miles (round trip) to get my bloood tested each 4 weeks. And if the readings were a little off I had to make that trip more often. So my insurance decided to pay for the machine. I now test once a week and can better keep an eye on my levels. Recently i had a few weeks where my INR had raised up to about 3.5. Testing weekly,I was able to catch it early and adjust my Warfarin to get back to normal INR. If I were on monthly testing, it might have been that high (or higher) for a month or so before finding out. That brings a chance of internal bleeding due to a fall, bruise and many other causes. I also now, don't have the really ugly bruises from the blood draws. Every time I went they could still see the bruise from the one a month earlier. I can also see the affects of my diet on my INR reading. My Dr wrote a prescription for it and the insurance company ok'd it.

I really like being able to do it at home.... BUT.... Having said that.

If it is not covered by your insurance, the cost of the machine is very high and the test strips are very expensive also.

[roddericoz in reply to TheStand]

Many people recognize that there is a relationship between warfarin and vitamin K, but often, they do not fully understand this relationship. So, what do you need to know about vitamin K and warfarin?

First, you should know that your liver uses vitamin K to make blood clotting proteins. In doing so, vitamin K plays a role in your body's natural clotting process. Warfarin works against vitamin K. Specifically, warfarin reduces your liver's ability to use vitamin K to produce normally functioning forms of the blood clotting proteins. By reducing the liver's ability to use vitamin K to produce normally functioning forms of the blood clotting proteins, warfarin reduces your risk of forming a blood clot. It is not a blood thinner although most people use that term. Is is also the same for Tinzaparin except that works by restricting the liver from producing fibrin, it also is not a blood thinner.

[AFAssociation1]

Personal INR testing kits are generally useful for those who find it difficult to get to a clinic or have a hectic work life. You may find this fact sheet on anticoagulation self monitoring a useful read: atrialfibrillation.org.uk/f...

[AFAssociation1]

If that link doesn't work, please try this link to all of our fact sheets atrialfibrillation.org.uk/p...

[RainingCatz]

Thanks everyone. I stopped taking Warfarin just before Christmas along with reducing my meds, but found my heart kept fluttering, so agreed to go back on the meds I took before, My INR was usually in range and I am able to get to have blood tests in a chemist near to me or at my doctors surgery. I will eave it for now, but may consider if circumstances change, They are so expensive !