I’m wondering if any of the glucose meters are accurate. I’ve called a few companies and they all claim a 20% error rate. That’s a pretty huge range. To my way of thinking, accurate is equal to lab results.
I have an Accu-Chek Aviva, a One-Touch Ultra, and mini One Touch meter. I’ve lined them all up, poked my little finger and used drops of blood from that single poke on each meter. I’ve done this a couple times and found that Accu-Check gives me the highest reading and the One-Touch’s are 5-10 mg/dL less.
I’ve tried using a single meter and testing and testing over again to see if I get the same results. I never do. So what does that mean?
My meter is acurate! That error rate is considered acceptable in the industry and I don’t understand the science behind it. One way to check your own meter’s accuracy is to take a blood glucose test on it whenever a lab blood glucose test is done and compare them. Mine are generally spot on or within a couple of points. I can’t explain the variables in your testing but have done that with my own meter and used different fingers and got the exact same number. You will drive yourself crazy with the comparison tests - pick a meter that is most comfortable to you and that meets your needs and stick with it. Use the lab to ‘check’ your meter.
I use the one touch ultra smart. It has been the most accurate for me.
As Karen said test them against your next fasting lab test.
I use an average of 3 readings from my meter. 3 pokes. 3 different fingers. different results but within 2 mg/dl of each other.
My meter has only been 1 mg/dl higher than the lab test twice in a row.
20% is a ridiculous tolerance in my opinion. But coming from the manufacturing field our published tolerances were larger than our internal tolerances. When we were able to meet the internal tolerances for X amount of time the company would publish new tolerances and give us new internal tolerances. We can only hope they tighten up on them for us.
I guess the meters used to more accurate in the past - when they took a minute or so to give a result. I have no experience with these, because I was dx’d last February. I’d happily trade speed for accuracy. I think a 20% +/- error rate is ridiculous. It would not be acceptable in a lab setting. We aren’t using them in labs but at a dollar+ per testing strip we should be getting our money’s worth.
Yvonne, I totally agree with you. When I first started testing, there wasn’t even a meter! You simply compared your result to a color chart on the back of the container. Before that you had to drop a tablet in a test tube of urine and then measure your result by the color. We’ve come a long way and I suppose given up much for convenience. But still the meter is likely more accurate than the color chart testing.
Karen - I do see your point. Thank goodness we have moved from having to catch a sample of urine to see how much glucose has been excreted. You see, I come from a biology background and am used to working with very accurate lab equipment. It just pains me to use a glucose meter with such a high error rate.
