Comparison of Manufacturers Kits

Blood glucose monitors have enabled diabetic patients to monitor their blood sugar levels at home which has contributed to better personal management of diabetes.Selecting a monitor is viewed by many patients as difficult or confusing and they often turn to the pharmacist for advice. Therefore, it is important that pharmacists have a basic idea of how the monitors work and be able to select the best monitor for their patients. The main feature patients look for is simplicity; if the machine is easy to use, the patient will use it more often.



The More Basic Kits

-These are the kits with fewer frills. They are fully functioning, but contain fewer "gadgets" and both are a little larger than some of the other kits.

-Two of the simplest machines to use on the market today are the Accu-Chek Easy and One Touch Basic. Both are available as kits that contain everything needed to perform the test.

Accu-Check test kit. The Accu-Chek kit includes the monitor, 25 test strips, Soft Touch pen with lancets, control solution, carry case, log book, owner's manual, and a 6V battery.




One Touch Basic test kit. The One Touch kit includes the monitor, 10 test strips, control solution, Penlet II automatic blood sampler, 25 lancets, check strip, carry case, log book, owner's manual, and a "J" size battery.




Examples of test strips: black for the control strip, red for a used test strip, and clear for an unused test strip.






Examples of the containers of the test strips and the pen used to draw the sample.




Summary of PROs and CONs

ACCU-CHEK

PROs:

*Memory stores up to 30 values.

*May visually compare test results to strip color guide on side of vial.

*To save battery power, machine shuts off after 5 minutes of non- use.

CONs:

*Must insert new code chip with each new bottle of test strips, if not, results will be inaccurate.

*Must get blood sample onto strip and insert strip within 30 seconds.

*Cannot test in humid conditions or direct sunlight.

*Extremes in hematocrit or altitudes above 6000 feet will adversely affect results.

ONE TOUCH

PROs:

*Easy to use -- no timing, wiping, or blotting.

*Free instructional video tape available.

*Displays in English or Spanish.

*Penlet II has two settings for regular or deep puncture.

*30 day money-back guarantee and a three year warranty.

*Strips are among the cheapest and most easily found.

CONs:

*If blood sample is smeared or is too small it may result in an inaccurate low reading.

*Cannot be exposed to moisture or heat.

*Battery is difficult to find.

*Have to re-code machine with every new box of test strips.

*Extremes in hematocrit or dehydration may cause inaccurate results.

Examples of the battery system in each device.




The "More to Offer" Kits.


The Glucometer Elite

PROs

*Smallest carrying case of all kits tested.

*No timing wiping or blotting.

*No cleaning.

*Small sample size.

*Comes with instructional Video tape(VHS).

CONs

*Cannot be exposed to moisture, heat, extreme cold.

*Must be recoded with new boxes of strips.

*Strips are not always easily found at all retail stores.



One Touch II

PROs:

*Strips are among the cheapest and easiest to find.

*Comes with free Audio instructional tape.

*Small Size

CONs:

*Sensitive to moisture, heat, and extreme cold.

*Must be recoded with each new box of strips.



Cost Comparison

 MONITOR           PRICE          TEST STRIPS            AVERAGE PRICE* 


Accu-Chek Easy     $ 69.99        Easy #50                       $32.84

                                  Easy #100                      $61.99

                                  

Exactech Comp/Pen  $ 49.99        Exactech strips #50            $36.15

                                  Exactech strips #100           $66.69

                                  

Glucometer Elite   $119.99        Elite test strips  #50         $34.99



One Touch Basic    $ 59.99        One Touch  #25                 $17.68

One Touch II	   $ 99.99        One Touch  #50                 $32.74

-                                 One Touch  #100                $54.91

		                          
 
Tracer II          $ 49.99        Tracer strips #50              $33.99

   


* Based on Average cost at four large retail pharmacies (December 1995).

Price of the strips should be judged as the most important cost factor when determining
which meter to buy. The meter is a one time purchase, while strips are a monthly charge.








Warranty Information

One Touch        3 Years

Glucometer       5 Years

Accuchek           Years
         

















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