Anticoag testing strips

[Anniel]

I have been given an Anticoag machine and had to buy the strips. They are really expensive, but I do not think they are available on prescription on the NHS. Does anyone here have any experience of getting a prescription for them?

[Hidden]

Hi Anniel. Yes the provision of test strips on prescription has been approved for many years. I have been getting my strips for my CoaguChek machine on prescription for 15 years now. A couple of comments though:

1. Not all GPs or CCGs support the idea so some won't issue them. You must talk it over with your GP to get his/her support. A good GP will want to know that you will monitor your INR reliably and not get it wrong though so you should be ready to show the GP you know what you are doing and perhaps check yourself as well as getting the NHS checks done for a while to show good correlation.

2. When you buy an INR testing machine new it comes with a good schedule of training to keep you safe. If yours has not come from the manufacturer then go back to the provider or contact the original manufacturer to get all the training instruction. The consequence of getting your testing wrong and therefore taking the wrong dose of Warfarin can be very serious.

All the best.

[flowerpower21]

Hello Anniel, welcome to the world of self testing! PBirt has already given you the low-down on the process and talking to your GP is important regarding this and getting their support. I have been self testing since August 2011 and my GP has had to fight tooth and nail to get allocation through our pct so that I can get my test strips on prescription - which finally got resolved a month ago! Yes for some of us it is a hard slog to get this far, but with your determination and keeping your tests on schedule you will hopefully get there article than mine took! Good luck and remember that we are always here to support you own that you are a part of this community. Take care and look after yourself-

[sparky514]

Before I bought my Coaguchek machine I made an appointment with my GP to make sure I could get the test strips on prescription, luckily I was. Can I ask who gave you the machine or did you buy it yourself, I know when I wanted to start self testing, I had to speak to my consultant to see if it was okay. Take care and let us know how you get on.

[Anniel]

Thank you for your responses which are most helpful. I will speak to my GP, but as they will not prescribe strips to measure blood sugar, i am not that confident about the strips for the anticoag. My PCT in London are very tight!

[antons in reply to Anniel]

Unfortunately my practice won't agree for NHS funding for the strips so it's a case of buying privately which is very expensive or continue going to the INR clinic which I shall probably do, as at the moment I'm on the max.12 weekly visit

[Tipper in reply to antons]

How well do you manage your INR wth only 12 weekly tests? You have no idea what your INR is doing with tests that far apart! I self manage weekly and stay well within my range.

[rosyG]

Our CCG have recently changed the rules so only 12 strips a year can be got on prescription-This has been added on, by hand, to the contract I have just received regarding self testing! I am debating whether to sign it, or challenge the restriction as I think the numbers should vary with need. I like being able to check myself and rang the Coaguchek team when I started recently and they were excellent. I had tried to put the blood drop on the strip rather than letting it drop by itself- she talked me through it while I did it and now I don't get any error messages!!

[Tipper in reply to rosyG]

The Coaguchek strips have a limited shelf life so the use by date may limit their ability to only provide only 12 at a time or 24 for 2 years. They come in 24 strip tubs.

Check the use by date on collection as my local Boots tried to bulk order and then issue nearly out of date strips which would have proved useless!

[nissanjean in reply to Tipper]

Test strips have an expiry date of twelve months.

Some people have to self test every few days.

[nissanjean in reply to rosyG]

Challenge them.Ask for their reasons for restricting self monitoring.Ask them to put it in writing that they can guarantee that with such infrequent monitoring that you are safe etc,etc.

Be aware that there are repercussions for those who complain though.