My doctors surgery INR clinic has started finger stick testing is this safe?

[beckyb]

Recently my doctors has changed from the traditional INR blood test taken from the vein to finger stick testing. Is this safe i have read that it is not reliable when you are lupus anticoagulant/APS positive

[Bethanne]

Generally yes. BUT if you have the lupus anticoagulant component then you may want to consider continuing venous test. Request a finger and venous comparison for a few test to know if this is accurate for you. That is what I did and it was fine. I do not have the LA component as a marker for my Primary APS. THe makers of the machine do recognized that those with certain markers for APS/Hughes should not use the machine.

[Herb in reply to Bethanne]

Definitely do the comparisons particularly if you INR is supposed to be above 3. The fingerpricks lose accuracy at higher INRs.

[KellyO]

Hi,

The lab I go to use to do the finger stick, but found it was not accurate so they no longer test that way. I personally never had my blood taken that way.

Take care

[margaretjo]

I have the finger pricks and had the comparison for the first few times, the most it was out was 0.1 now i have veinous draws if i go below 2 or if i go above 5 which i think is a fair compromise

[daisy11]

Well on a couple of ocassions, my INR levels have been quite a bit out when having the finger prick method - yesterday to prove this I had both finger prick method done and venous and it came back higher from the lab it was 4.2 with FP and the venous was 4.6.

Its gets complicated doesn't it?

[Bethanne in reply to daisy11]

Daisy,

You can get that much variable by running the same specimen twice in the same machine or even in the machine next to it. I would consider that variable medically acceptable.

[roymelt]

i have la , i started home testing, was ok then ,i tested and machine showed 8.so panicked went hospital for venous showed i was 3.4 ,so now for next 6 months i do both, results show if im over 3.2 then i show 8 on machine doctor reckons it because im having flair ups

[Moonlightonly]

Hi I have been doing my own testing at home now 4 over a year with no problems.Either every 6 mos. or at least once a year I need 2 go 2 my lab at the hospital 2 ck my readings against the machine,so far it has been right on the money,I have both Lupus with APS,Tina