Inr self testing

[Cushions]

Hello please can anyone tell me how I go about getting a self testing machine ?

[MaryF Administrator]

Hi there, are you in the UK? If so do please contact Kate Hindle at the charity, who will be able to give you some advice on this. hughes-syndrome.org/about-h...

MaryF

[Cushions in reply to MaryF]

I am in the UK. And thank you so much I will certainly contact her.

[Yissica]

Roche are the only company providing an NHS authorised product. Their Healthcare professional information says:

"Your patients can only begin self-monitoring if you agree to it. They can buy the CoaguChek®XS themselves, but you can prescribe the test strips on an FP10.

They will need training on how to self-monitor, and ongoing support and review. NICE recommends that they are reviewed at least every six months, and have access to an appropriately trained healthcare professional for advice when they need it. Educating patients in self-monitoring is key for them to adhere to an agreed testing schedule.

Roche provides a support and training service for patients, and for healthcare professionals interested in helping their patients self-monitor. For more information, call our Careline on 0808 100 7666. Our website contains further resources and useful contacts."

coaguchek.co.uk/coaguchek_p...

CoaguChek® XS System - An INR tester for home use, the CoaguChek® gives results in less than a minute – which you can share with your nurse or, if agreed, adjust your warfarin dose. £299.00 (inc VAT £358.80)

Softclix® XL 1x50 lancets £1.96 (inc VAT £2.35)

24 test strips £68.74 (inc VAT £82.49)

48 test strips £134.39 (inc VAT £161.27)

Support Information

CareLine: Mon - Fri 9am - 6pm

0808 100 7666 (UK) 1 800 992 868 (IRE)

You need to check with your CCG or GP that they support self monitoring as my area thinks that their service is good and you really need to fight to self monitor.

Good luck and do speak to Kate for advice.

[harrio]

I went on the Roche website and bought myself a Coaguchek XS machine. It has done me proud for over 5 years now. They send it by courier, good luck Steve

[beccafullcircle]

Hello, I am in the US and have a self test machine through Alere.

It took me an extremely long time to accomplish the prescription, finally it was prescribed and thank God our insurance covers it. We pay very little each month to keep the machine strips going

Its a new relief for my life being on 7.5 ml a day of Warfarin for life they say.

If you need any questions on Alere monitoring please let me know, not sure how it would apply with where you are?

I am not a physician, the journey I am on has been from a patient seeking answers just like yourself.

Becca

[mozelle]

I am also self testing with the Alere home monitoring machine. Fortunately, when my doctor approved it and sent it to my medical plan which is Medicare, they approved it. A trainer brought the machine to me and taught me how to use it. Technically, the machine is not mine. It is "rented". I self test every week, call in the results to Alere, and they fax them to my doctor. I then receive a call from my doctor's office and go over the results, warfarin, etc. I do not pay anything--Alere bills Medicare $265 for every 4 strips used (usually, every 4 weeks for the strips and monitoring.) --I am fortunate that I don't have to pay for all this.

[Lesley61 in reply to mozelle]

I got think to help me from Medicare do you have to go thought your GP to get one free I can not afford one xx

[mozelle in reply to Lesley61]

If you are on Medicare, then they pay for the rental of the machine--I have Medicare and a supplemental plan, so I do not to have to pay anything at all. Medicare and my supplemental get billed. My hematologist ordered the machine for me. I guess the doctor who is treating you for the APS does the paperwork.

Please look into it---I'd like to hear how you make out.

[Holley]

Are you positive for Lupus Anticoagulant Antibodies? If so, you may get inaccurate readings. I had a machine and took it with me to the lab to test along side and check for reliability. It was drastically different. Turns out the re-agent the company uses in its self test monitor doesn't work with the LA Antibodies. I'm in the states so maybe the machines are different where you live. My hematologist called the manufacturer.

[Lure2 in reply to Holley]

I use Roche CoaguChek XS since 4 years now. I am Lupus Anticoagulant also.

First years I did doublecheque (within 2 hours) between the hospital lab vein and my fingerprick test on my machine at home. There were always a different but the clinic has been careful several years and there is always the same difference. it may differ 0,1 - 0,3 if the INR is very high there is a bit bigger difference. They follow me and my numbers all the time in the hospital and I do doubletests only every 2 - 3 months now.

I trust my machine. My therapeutic INR value is 3.2 - 3.8 and I test every second day at home and monitor my warfarin myself now.

Kerstin in Stockholm

[mozelle in reply to Holley]

Hi Holley

No, I'm not lupus anticoagulant. I test positive for everything else relating to APS. My hematologist, on my last visit, tested me in the office, and then asked me to self-test when I got home. Numbers were very close and he said it was okay.

[Ignacio182 in reply to mozelle]

I test myself as well with a microINR machine, a very modern device manufactured in Spain.Difference between the lab and home testing is 0.1 - 0.3.

I rely on testing myself once or twice a week, rather than going to get blood drawn every month.

Greetings!

Ignacio, from CHILE

[Lure2 in reply to Ignacio182]

Is it called " iLine microsystems" with 25 microINR chips? I have that one. As you say the difference is very small between fingerpricktest and veintest. I rely on testing myself twice a week at home.

Kerstin in Stockholm

[Ignacio182 in reply to Lure2]

That is the machine. Very friendly to use and minimal blood sample required.

I am glad that you use it too!

[Lure2 in reply to Ignacio182]

Do you have Antiphospholipidsyndrome Ignacio? You joined today. Welcome!

[Ignacio182 in reply to Lure2]

Thanks Lure!Yes, diagnosed APS.Had a DVT on right leg a couple of years ago. They discover it after getting an exam on soccer injury.

I was lucky to found out that way.

Keeping my INR around 3.0 works to avoid headaches and fatigue.

Merry Christmas y'all

[Lure2 in reply to Ignacio182]

That machine is very good. I wish every APS-sufferer could have that one and test at home. I am so happy that my Hospital uses that machine for people taking Warfarin.

Merry Christmas to you in Chile from me in Sweden !

[Holley]

Mozelle,

That's great that it worked for you! I was getting wildly inaccurate readings. For example, the lab draw INR was 2.8 and the machine I used had me at 6.0. Not going to trust my life with that discrepancy. It would be nice t test from home as I started a new job no where near the hospital I used to test at.

[mozelle]

Holley

Wow! That is some difference. The difference when he had me test at home after his office test was 0.3 and he said that was okay. Also, I was going to his office once a week for 9 months before he approved the machine for me to self test. At that time, my INR was pretty stable from week to week, and I am still getting just about the same numbers. I've range from 2.4 to 3.5. He wants me from 2 to 3.1 but he likes it on the higher side.

This week was 2.6 so I'm staying away from the green veggies a little. We try not to change the dose of warfarin--I kind of know how to adjust it with my food intake.

[Lure2 in reply to mozelle]

Hi Mozelle,

You should do a VEIN-test at the lab and a fingerprick test at home on your machine not more than 2 hours difference in time. The answer from the lab will come later the same day.

Those two numbers should be compared. Not from one machine to another as i have understood that you do. Or am I wrong?

Kerstin

[mozelle in reply to Lure2]

hi Kerstin

what happened was that day the hematologist office did a vein test and they got 2.3 INR,and then he told me to test at home. about 2 hours later I did the finger prick at home and it was 2.6 INR.I called him with those results and he said it was pretty close. and that It was ok.

Mozelle