Is there a trick to using Precision Xtra Ketone Meter?

[wendyc]

Hi,

I don't know if it's just me, but has anyone had trouble getting the Precision Xtra meter to register once the blood drop is on? It seems that even though we get a good drop, it doesn't always register. It's just frustrating because these strips are VERY expensive!

Just curious.

Any suggestions appreciated:)

[Jana]

We have found that we have to bleed out Gabriel's entire arm before the machine will register...at least it feels that way at times. But...we do get it to work. After pricking Gabriel's finger, we actually hold the drop of blood (and his finger) directly over the little collection circle and continue to milk his finger until the stupid thing beeps at us. It tooks us a few times to figure it all out, but we no longer have to toss keytone strips.

[Ben'sMommy]

We have had to do the same. It needs a massive amount of blood so we also keep milking Ben's finger until it registers.
It is a pity that it takes so much blood but it is a much more accurate way of checking ketones. He doesn't have them that often so we don't mind too much.
Also, we use the same finger prick that checked his blood so he doesn't have to get pricked twice.

[BrendaK]

Ditto what everyone else said. You need a HUGE drop of blood. (Especially compared to the Freestyle Flash that we use regularly!).

[EmmasMom]

Ditto... Again! :) It requires an amazing amount of blood, much more than our meters. I always set the lancet to a deeper setting and make sure her hands are nice and warm before I poke her, then I milk her pore little finger until it finally beeps.
I have had a couple of occasions where, despite doing everything right, it still gives me an error code when it's done counting down. Very frustrating!

[Ellen]

Try washing hands with warm water first and then massaging towards the area you're going to poke before lancing...see if that helps.

[game2fun]

I have also found that it takes the meter a few long seconds to realize it's full. I've put a good sized drop on the strip and while busy trying to milk more blood out of the finger the machine suddenly beeped and went into countdown mode. I've since realized it doesn't need quite as much blood as I first thought it did. It just actually needs time to realize the blood is there.
Of course, having said this is does require quite a bit more blood then the glucose meters. We call it the vampire machine!! lol, But it beats cotton balls in diapers or trying to pee on a stick or in a cup!!

[Brandon B]

It is not worth the cost of the strips we hate it.:mad:

[Ellen]

Although many of you are frustrated with this meter, and the price of the strips, I would encourage you to keep using it if possible especially during illness. If you have wasted strips - ask the company to replace them.

The research is clear about how much more timely the information is than urine ketone testing, and during illness, IMHO that information can be be critical.

[wendyc]

The new strips which load the blood just like regular bg strips make it so much easier to use now. Now that they have changed the design, I do not think we have had one error reading yet. I find this meter invaluable. Even though the strips are costly, it is worth it for accuracy alone.

I agree with Ellen, don't give up on it!

[n_K]

you think thats bad ? try the freestyle, it makes me go mental when one of the strips doesnt work (even after putting A LOT on both sides, you take the strip out and put it back in and it gives you error 3, blood applied too early!), which came to the extent that after being so frustrated... well the meter ended up it more thn 1 piece :/
urine tests are rubbish, they show i have the highest / worst blood thing and a lab sample said that was rubbish, it always shows me having 3 stars of protein, the lab again said this was rubbish (trace) and the ketone part never works, its always a completely different colour, let alone shade to any of the readings on the case! I used my old meter (before precision) with the keytone test strips and although they went out of date 2 years ago, the first one didnt work, the 2nd required blood to be forced on to the strip a few times but it still worked, i had no keytones while the useless strips showed... well whatever they showed, you cant work it out

[Ellen]

My son's been using the Freestyle Flash for a long time. He prefers it over any other meter he has used. Loves the little light at the tip for checking in the dark. You really have to barely wick the strip against the tiny drop of blood.

[Illinifan]

We haven't tried it yet, but I appreciate the tips on using the attachment. So will Zach.

Brian

[liasmommy2000]

I asked the endo's office for one in Nov and they gave us one, but we have the same problem! However I looked at the info on it at this site (under products) and it appears we may have the old strips. I need to get some new ones and try it. I couldn't understand why people loved it so much, we had only one out of four strips work.

Reminder to self to get more (newer) strips.