Hi Does anyone who is on warfarin have a portable machine?
Roche CoaguChek INRange - Portable INR Self-Testing Meter with Bluetooth
If so is it accurate/any good?
I have just seen it online and want to buy one as we are going to be away for 3 weeks and it would be handy as my INR is erratic. It is only about £350 ish.
Thanks
Hi Molly I have a machine and use it when I am away from my regular vein INR. My machine always has my INR .2 above the vein INR. eg; if it identifies my INR at 3.8 I dose it as 3.6. I find most pathologists and others often criticize the reliability of the machine results but it recently proved itself when it identified my INR at 4.8 when I had been a stomach upset and couldn't eat which in turn raised my INR and I felt like something was wrong. lightheaded and a TIA type feeling. This feeling and the machine was a warning to me to skip a dose which I did and it soon returned to the ideal range.
hi Molly. I’ve self tested/managed for 20 years with my own machine and highly recommend it. Similar to the last answer, it’s always been within 0.1/0.2 compared to a venous sample. I also have a raised INR with any type of infection so it’s great to be able to respond accordingly. My GP is very happy to write a prescription for the test strips and as a rule I rest fortnightly.
I have a coaguchek xs. This is the original one I bought 20 years ago. I get it checked with a venous sample roughly every year. More often if I have to go in for a different sort of blood test and they do an INR as well. Never had any problems. Not really sure when I should update it to be honest, but might get in touch with Roche for advice. I really can’t recommend it highly enough. Being responsible for ones own checking is invaluable not least because if you fear it is too high or too low you can check instantly and do something about it. Of course you have to have GP approval and support, but I have never had anything other than that from all the doctors I have had to see.
Hi, I have had the Roche coaguchek for a long time now and wouldn’t be without it. I was only monitored with a blood test once a year and inbetween with a similar machine at my surgery. I have found even when going in for surgery that the drs accept the results from the inr machine. I would highly recommend it especially on holiday as travelling always upsets my inr and takes a while to get it back to normal.
Hi, yes I have had one for a year despite people on here saying not to get one. I test once a week then I do a blood draw every 4 weeks at the hospital. I take my machine with me to check that it is coming up with the same INR as the hospitals. They’re always happy to squirt some blood onto the stick at the end of taking thr blood. It’s all a bit fiddly and messy. So far they’ve always been the same result. Very useful when travelling.
I don’t really feel I need testing at all. When my INR is too low or too high I get a cracking migraine type headache, which tells me it’s out of whack.
Hi,I have used the Roche CoaguChek XS System for 5 years with good results.
Occasionally, I go to the lab for a comparison test.
I think the machine is reliable unless you get an error message. That can be a rather confusing experience.
Depends on how "electronic" savvy you are.
Good luck!
Thanks for info.
I’ve had mine for one year. About every 4-6 weeks I check it’s accuracy with a blood draw. It has either match or been within .2-.3 points difference from the at home monitor. My average INR over the year is 2.9. So, I’m very pleased with the at home monitor.
you have to have approval from your Anticoag department at the hospital and your gp to test your own inr.
I have a coaguchek xs for the past 10 years. I check weekly and ring my results through to the hospital who dose me. The reason for this is because I have SLE as well as many other conditions which make my inr very erratic.
After advise from Anticoag I bought my machine myself and the doctors prescribe my test strips. I only have a venous sample taken if my inr is above 4 or below 2. The machine is not very accurate above 4.
I go to the hospital every six months to have a comparison venous sample to compare with my test results. They also check the machine is clean etc.
Thanks for info, I was going to discuss it with the warfarin nurse I see as mine is very erratic too. But I have never been asked to get a venous sample taken, I only ever go to nurse at my surgery and have done for 30 odd years. I normally go every two weeks as so erratic, but was hoping I could go less if I was taking it at home in between too, also going to be away in May for 3 weeks so would be useful to have.
Hi Molly,
Does the nurse do a finger prick sample? Do you have APS?
I had to complete several weeks of dual testing at my local DVT clinic to ensure that APS wasn’t skewing the results. As most people have mentioned, readings do differ slightly from venous tests but as long as it’s by the same amount each time, it’s easy to calculate.
I used to have an XS machine but replaced it with an INRange a couple of years ago. They are £299 from a company called Williams Medical (who are Roche’s approved UK supplier). APS patients shouldn’t pay VAT on these machines. I bought mine direct from Roche (they don’t sell direct any more) and as I have APS, I had to sign a waiver to say that I understood that finger prick machines aren’t recommended for us.
One other issue is that the test strips are quite expensive and tend to have a short shelf life. Because I sought permission and did the dual testing beforehand, my GP prescribes the strips and sharps.
Having the machine does make a huge difference when I’m travelling though. However, a further issue is that GPs are not allowed to dose you whilst you’re not in UK and my local area does not allow patients to self medicate with warfarin, so in theory I am supposed to get my dose info from the local heath centre of whichever foreign town I’m in.
Hope that helps.
Not sure why a GP would be "not allowed" to dose you while temporarily not in the UK (not being resident is different). You are still under their care and no physical presence or examination is needed.
I am under a hospital lead anti-coagulant service and have been dosed over the phone when on holiday abroad on multiple occasions. Since I call on mobile they wouldn't know, but I have told them anyway, doesn't seem to be a problem.
In contrast I would be very very wary of taking dosing from a local health centre, not because I don't trust foreign medical systems but because they won't have my full meds records or dose history or the data about how I react to dose changes.
[Edit: looked it up, the guidance says: "The NHS accepts responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad of up to three months". Not sure why that wouldn't include ongoing dosing where the medication is variable-dose, except if a physical exam is required, which it isn't for warfarin].
My husband has APS triple positive. His warfarin level fluctuates a lot so he needs to have his INR tested weekly. We were hopeful the Roche Coaguchek would make his life easier. We tested with both means (Coaguchek and in the local lab) for 6 weeks. The Coaguchek readings were always 1.4??? The lab readings were always significantly different. We provided Roche with all the details and they tested the machine. They then told us that the Coaguchek readings are not reliable for triple pos APS. They did refund us for the machine in full.
This may explain why my clinic wouldn’t allow me to self test, I’m also triple positive.
I am triple positive and self-test with microINR (iLine microsystems) machine. It works with self-calibrated Chips. I Have accurate results compared to vein numbers.Maybe you could try it.
Thank you for your answer, but I inquired with my warfarin clinic and was told that as I’m triple positive and have had two previous dvts, that they wouldn’t allow me to self test.
I have the Roche Coaguchek and it’s been great for me. It was identical to the venous sample and I use it regularly to keep in range
Thank you for replying.
I believe they are accurate, but my warfarin clinic said that they would not allow me to self test as I have APS. So check with who you are under for prescriptions.
Might be handy for a holiday though.
Only just got mine it's X's baby one of nurse GP they calibrate the two every six months to make sure they are reading correctly. Gp provides strips and ring in results early days but seems good
I’ve just got one and same as rankin1st you need doctors to approve it and confirm they will prescribe testing strips. Then the machine has to be calibrated once a year. Make sure you get the most up to date one;speak with the warfarin nurses and they will advise you. They always have a Roche specialist nurse for the machine using patients. I got mine off a contact secondhand for £150 but it is the latest model. Worth looking in marketplace and eBay etc
Thanks for info
They are plenty of online store where the meters are available. I got mine on Reliaston for a reasonable price.
I use the INR machine it's pretty it is pretty reliable. The pass month my test have been all over. But. Those pass month I have been dealing with covid an a head cold
Hi many on here, do use them with a great amount of success and it is also measured against your regular vein draws at the INR clinic, it is important to monitor carefully as sometimes it can take a while to get the hang of it. I hope you have a success with this new regime if you do go down this route. MaryF
Thanks Mary, it arrived today. I am taking it in for my appointment on Monday, but looks pretty straight forward. My partner is coming too as I never retain any information I am told! My doctor has given me the prescription for the strips etc. It will be so lovely not having to go in almost every week as my INR has been even more erratic since my total gastrectomy last Christmas. I don't have a vein test the nurse just does the finger prick too.
hi, I bought my inr range a several yrs from Roche for about £250 ish I think. The leaflet says if LA positive it may not be precise. I am. I chart each home testing against venous tests for past few yrs.. My machine is always 10% higher . Eg home test 3.3 venous will be about 3.ish . Thanks to this machine I only go for venous once a month . Test at home weekly. Dr gives prescriptions for strips but I had to pay for machine . Not all U.K. Drs will give out prescriptions for strips. It’s been a life changer. I take a high 10mg warfarin a day but do eat a high but constant quantities of greens . I’m in range most of the time but I am pretty clued up on my Vit K intake of all food. The clinic found the correct dose for my diet. When I first started warfarin I tried to avoid vit K but my INR was a yo-yo . My INR fluctuations are now small and within range .
High vit K and high warfarin works for me but consult the clinic before changing a diet. My clinic was great at balancing the dose for my diet and lifestyle. Found that now I each a lot of greens and take high warfarin I don’t yo-yo.
Kj
Can I just reach out to everyone who actually has a machine and ask if they use Pipettes for transferring blood and if so where do they get them? My doctor will not supply and they do not know where they came from !lol I know crazy. I got some on Amazon but they are way too big and I know I will not be able to transfer by finger to difficult. Thanks. In Uk BTW
hi Molly,
In the last 20 years I’ve used a Roche INR monitor on my third monitor now. I wouldn’t be without it and rely on it when we are travelling around in the motorhome. I just email my INR results to the anticoag clinic and they email me the dose and when to check in again. I have a venous check twice a year to make sure venous and monitor results match. So far I’ve had no problems.
Thanks Hazel its good to know, did my first one last week and it went well. I did take it into nurse previous week and checked my machine against her one and mine was 3.4 and hers was 3.5 so pretty accurate. It is great to not have to make the trip into surgery too.
Happy camper vanning we are off to Wales in May for two weeks, was going to Scotland but changed our minds as we are newbies.
I've been using the INRange for about 3 years and my readings are generally +/-0.3 INR compared to the lab which definitely works fine.
Just to let everyone know I have now been using my machine for a few months and it is great, for some reason my INR seems to be more in range than before! Not so erratic, more stable. So much more convenient than going to the surgery every two weeks!!
yep, I have one of these, also for a long trip away. Have cross checked it against the hospital test a couple of times and seems ok. Looks like if anything changes then have to contact the hospital for dose changes.
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