I know this topic has come up from time to time and there are scads of good comparison articles out there about accuracy. I just thought you might like to see the results of my testing between 4 meters — my examples below are from several multiple test scenarios and they represent the ‘LEAST variance’ between meters. So other 4 meter comparison tests I did had WIDER ranges. This is the ‘MIDDLE’ of the range – meaning the CLOSEST they got. All tests were done with clean hands and prick area untouched within 1 minute of hand cleaning and all test strips were touched with the same blood site. (I did testing taking blood from 3 different finger tips {worried that the third meter’s remaining blood wouldn’t be as ‘true’} and the results weren’t markedly different.
High range:
FreeStyle FREEDOM LITE: 151
Bayer BREEZE2: 140
RELION MICRO: 134
RELION CONFIRM: 135
(new for 2010)
Medium range:
FreeStyle FREEDOM LITE: 121
Bayer BREEZE2: 115
RELION MICRO: 112
RELION CONFIRM: 111
Low Range:
FreeStyle FREEDOM LITE: 98
Bayer BREEZE2: 84
RELION MICRO: 71
RELION CONFIRM: 75
As you can see the FREESTYLE LITE is always the highest number which others of you have reported. So using that one will "keep you honest". And in the high range it’s WAY high. The difference between it at 151 and the ReliOn at 134 would definitely make me think differently about how to bolus or how well a certain food worked for me. I can’t have that much difference. Even the Bayer’s number was sufficiently lower than the Freestyle in the higher range that I’d make worse decisions following the FreeStyle.
In the medium range they got a little closer but the difference between the FreeStyle and the ReliOn meters is too wide for me to trust the FreeStyle — AND too depressing.. ;).
In the low range — the ReliOn gets a little too forgiving and could make me overreact in dealing with a hypo. The day I had my one and only ’30’ — that was measured with the ReliOn Micro. I’ll get it was closer to a 45. Still too low.. but… – Remember the variances of about 6 other times when I tested with all 4 meters were WIDER in the same pattern I’ve noticed here with the FreeStyle getting higher and higher compared to the Breeze and at lo ranges the ReliOn Micro being too forgiving.
The Breeze2 is the middle and so I trust it the most — though it requires 1.0µ of blood which is a pretty bit drop requiring a pretty deep lance. The other 3 meters only require 0.3µ which is way easier on those delicate fingertips. So the convenience of the test strip DISCS of 10 for the Bayer is REAL nice — but I’m tiring of the deep lances for the test. SO — I’m hoping that the Bayer CONTOUR has the testing range of the Breeze — and it only needs 0.6µ of blood. So that may be where I land. Haven’t purchased it yet.
Keep in mind none of this testing was done in comparison to a LAB test at my Drs ofc. Only meter to meter.
The widest difference I ever had was FREESTYLE 168, BAYER 141, RELION 131 — *tested twice to be sure* FREESTYLE 165, BAYER 143, RELION 135
Any body else done testing comparisons and have any input?
Thanks and Happy New Year ALL!!