Anyone Bought An INR Home Testing Machine?

[Penny-Pincher!!]

Hi Everyone

I am seriously considering buying a home testing INR machine as my INR can become very unstable suddenly and I cant always get to the hospital due to ill health. I also hate needles but can handle the finger pricks ok.

Just wanted to know if anyone has bought one or knows anyone who has?

They are not very cheap and cost around £500:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: .....but I will be on Warfarin for the rest of my life, so may be an investment and means I can be checked at any time, especially if Im not feeling well. I can normally tell when my INR is high or low, but my clinic is only open set times each day and some days I cant move.

Thanks

PP
xx

[mr_rush]

If you are unable to get to the clinic then can the district nurse not come and check your INR?
I am sure your machine will need calibrating - do you know the costs? Also, although you will get INR feedback - will your GP be happy to prescribe warfarin based on your own readings?

I suggest you discuss the matter with your anticoagulation clinic.

TBH, I didn't know INR machines were available to the public. Perhaps they have a place in patients who will need lifelong warfarin and are motivated and responsible.

[Penny-Pincher!!]

If you are unable to get to the clinic then can the district nurse not come and check your INR?
I am sure your machine will need calibrating - do you know the costs? Also, although you will get INR feedback - will your GP be happy to prescribe warfarin based on your own readings?

I suggest you discuss the matter with your anticoagulation clinic.

TBH, I didn't know INR machines were available to the public. Perhaps they have a place in patients who will need lifelong warfarin and are motivated and responsible.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I could get the district nurse to do a blood test, but I am not very good with needles. The INR machine takes 2 minutes from putting a droplet of blood onto it, to reading your and dosing your Warfarin.

I would still need to be monitored by the clinic, but wouldnt have to go as often. Im pretty sure my GP would still perscribe the meds and I will talk to the anti-coag doctor on Thursday when I see ihim next.

Some hospitals even offer them too patients:

http://www.gloshospitals.org.uk/ppi/leaflets/pdf/ghpi0755.pdf

http://www.guch.org.uk/experiences/coagucheck

Thanks for your input.

PP
xx

[mr_rush]

Good luck with it.
I'm sure your anticoag Dr will support you with it. You sound very sensible

[sillyvixen]

if you track your own INR would mean you increasing/decreasing your anticoags (warferin i assume) you would really need to discuss this with your GP as i am guessing he may not be prepared to prescribe on your say so!! also 500 quid is a lot to spend (plus maintainace costs) for a service that can be provided by a community nurse - daily if your INR's fluctuate enough to nesesitate it.

[Penny-Pincher!!]

if you track your own INR would mean you increasing/decreasing your anticoags (warferin i assume) you would really need to discuss this with your GP as i am guessing he may not be prepared to prescribe on your say so!! also 500 quid is a lot to spend (plus maintainace costs) for a service that can be provided by a community nurse - daily if your INR's fluctuate enough to nesesitate it.

Thanks for your reply.

I would still be under the anti-coag clinic, I just wouldnt need to attend weekly. As stated I'm really bad with blood tests and have to have them regularly due to other illnesses, so one less is great in my books by my distric nurse:D My clinic doesnt test via full blood tests, but by the same method used for diabetes (the same as the home kit). I can get the needles and strips on perscription.

I personally dont think that £400 or £500 is alot to pay when you consider that it would save my time, a journey out that I shouldnt be making due to ill health and it would also cost the NHS less as I wouldnt need as many appointments.

I can also check at any time, especially if feeling ill. Obviously, if the reading was too much out of my range, then I would have to attend clinic or call them ASAP. I have the clinical nurse specialists mobile number and bleeper number.

I will ask on Thursday when I attend next.

Thanks again.

PP
xx

[mr_rush]

Is it possible to get a machine on prescription?

[Penny-Pincher!!]

I wouldnt have thought so, but will ask on Thursday.

Thanks for thinking of that.

PP
xx

[moneysaving pharmacist]

Coagucheck machines are not available at NHS expense (but then neither are blood glucose meters). The test strips and lancets are available on prescription. The test strips need to be kept in the fridge, although the box isn't that large. I've only come across one or two patients with their own coagucheck.

In the area I work the hospitals don't really do INR clinics - once a patient is initiated and reasonably stabilised they are looked after by a nurse led clinic at a GP surgery, or a pharmcist led clinic at a comunity pharmacy. This works well because it's easier and more convienent for patients to go to their GP surgey or a pharmacy than trek across to the hospital. Even if you were self testing you still need to be under the care of a clinic somewhere to take care of dose adjustment, although this could probably be done over the phone.

Penney-pincher, I wouldn't have thought your GP would have a problem prescribing warfarin for you if you were self testing, as you'd still be under the care of a clinic somewhere. At least it would mean your GP is aware of the fact that you are on warfarin (they aren't always - if the clinic supplies warfarin and communication breaks down somewhere then the GP may not know a patient is on warfarin).

[Penny-Pincher!!]

Coagucheck machines are not available at NHS expense (but then neither are blood glucose meters). The test strips and lancets are available on prescription. The test strips need to be kept in the fridge, although the box isn't that large. I've only come across one or two patients with their own coagucheck.

In the area I work the hospitals don't really do INR clinics - once a patient is initiated and reasonably stabilised they are looked after by a nurse led clinic at a GP surgery, or a pharmcist led clinic at a comunity pharmacy. This works well because it's easier and more convienent for patients to go to their GP surgey or a pharmacy than trek across to the hospital. Even if you were self testing you still need to be under the care of a clinic somewhere to take care of dose adjustment, although this could probably be done over the phone.

Penney-pincher, I wouldn't have thought your GP would have a problem prescribing warfarin for you if you were self testing, as you'd still be under the care of a clinic somewhere. At least it would mean your GP is aware of the fact that you are on warfarin (they aren't always - if the clinic supplies warfarin and communication breaks down somewhere then the GP may not know a patient is on warfarin).

Thank you for your response. I will talk with the clinic in the morning.

PP
xx

[Totoriko]

Hi guys,
I'm also interested in getting a Home INR testing machine. Is there only 1 manufacturer making them?

[Penny-Pincher!!]

I think so there is only the one.

PP
xx

[mr_rush]

So what was the outcome?

[Penny-Pincher!!]

So what was the outcome?

Sorry!:rotfl:

I spoke to them yesterday as I wasnt well enough to attend last week and they have agreed to fully back me:j :j :j :j ....basically, I would have to still attend there for a few weeks and run tests at home alongside the kit to see the difference etc and if they are happy with similar readings, then I should only have to attend every few weeks or when unwell.

I am just waiting to hear back from my GP about the test strips as they are very expensive...around £220 for 48 tests:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: ....but I have already been offered a secondhand machine 2 years old for less than half the price new:D and she lives locally and will run through it all with me if I buy from her.

Many thanks for all the advice.

PP
xx

[zztopgirl]

Well done:T and fingers crossed for you that you can get the half price machine!:beer:

I had to attend the inr clinic for 3 months and hated it, i got quite a lot of dirty looks from the elderly and they would push in front of me in the queue. Also had to wait at least 2 hours to be seen every week. I heard about the home testing machine which was a possibility if i was going to be on warfarin for a long time/life but thankfully i stabilised and came off them. Still keep my little orange book as a memento though.

Plus dont forget that moneysaving pharmacist said you can get the test strips on prescription, so you only have to make a one-off payment for the machine.:j

[ABH]

Coagucheck machines are not available at NHS expense (but then neither are blood glucose meters). The test strips and lancets are available on prescription. The test strips need to be kept in the fridge, although the box isn't that large. I've only come across one or two patients with their own coagucheck.

In the area I work the hospitals don't really do INR clinics - once a patient is initiated and reasonably stabilised they are looked after by a nurse led clinic at a GP surgery, or a pharmcist led clinic at a comunity pharmacy. This works well because it's easier and more convienent for patients to go to their GP surgey or a pharmacy than trek across to the hospital. Even if you were self testing you still need to be under the care of a clinic somewhere to take care of dose adjustment, although this could probably be done over the phone.

Penney-pincher, I wouldn't have thought your GP would have a problem prescribing warfarin for you if you were self testing, as you'd still be under the care of a clinic somewhere. At least it would mean your GP is aware of the fact that you are on warfarin (they aren't always - if the clinic supplies warfarin and communication breaks down somewhere then the GP may not know a patient is on warfarin).

I thought this best to ask you as your pseudonym sugests you're a Pharmacist. But are there any alternatives to the Coagucheck system that you know of? Or is there only coagucheck if you're home testing?

Thanks.

[moneysaving pharmacist]

Coagucheck is the only system I've come across, but I've just found out there are others as well:
-HemoSense INRatio
-ProTime3
-SmartCheck INR

and the test strips for the above are prescribable on the NHS.

[ABH]

Coagucheck is the only system I've come across, but I've just found out there are others as well:
-HemoSense INRatio
-ProTime3
-SmartCheck INR

and the test strips for the above are prescribable on the NHS.

Fantastic, thank you for that. Dissapointingly it's looking like the Coagucheck may be the cheapest to run. I received some literature and a dvd demonstration of how the system works, it's not dissimilar to the way that diabetes is checked.

!!!!! finger, place blood droplet onto 'stick' insert into machine. Wait a minute then receive result. The only thing I don't understand is how to determine whether I should increase\decrease my warfarin. That seems to require 'further training' at a cost of £125.00 a lot less than what my Warfarin Clinic would have me believe unfortunately.

For the benefit of anyone that comes accross this subject and wonders about the Coagucheck XS the costings from the information pack I received are as follows:

Coagucheck XS : £399.00 after a £49 down payment then payments of £35 to the value. This includes the manual etc plus 6 test strips, lancets and a video\dvd of how to use it.

Coagucheck Test strips in 24 pack: £123.83
Coagucheck Test strips in 12 pack: £31.67
Coagucheck PT Check liquid: £10.88

Softclix Lancets for 200 : £ 6.93
Softclix XL Lancets for 50 : £1.73

Hopefully the above will benefit somebody and hopefully one of the other systems will be a little bit cheaper :D

Thanks again for the other device names.

[moneysaving pharmacist]

Even if you are home testing you should still be under the care of whoever is looking after your warfarin at the moment. Warfarin is not appropriate for self determination of dosing, and most doctors, nurses and pharmacists who adjust warfarin doses use computer programs to assist them. The way I see home testing working is that you test yourself and get the result, then contact whoever looks after you and they tell you what your dose is and when next to test.

Test strips and lancets are available on NHS prescription, so no need for you to worry about the cost of them.

[OverlandLandy]

Hi All

I'm in the same position of now of looking for a self testing kit.
The best (in terms of usability and the fact that you do not need to keep the test strips in the fridge) appears to be the Roche CoaguChek XS. I can find it for £399inc postage etc.... does anyone know of a better offer?

I need to check if I can get the strips on prescription, but I know that some NHS hospitals are now using this kit (Yorkhill).

I work away from home a lot and I need to change my work patterns around to accommodate the clinic. As I'm on Warfarin for life it does make some sense. My company are also supporting it and are going to make a 'contribution' to-wards the cost.

I have spoken the the Clinic and they have confirmed that they are happy to support me self testing & self medicating. I need to go and use it along side their test a couple of times so they can check that I'm OK with it. They did not have a concern over me self dosing as I have been on it for a couple of years now and I can tell the Nurse what my dose needs to be. They did say that generally 'younger' people can handle do it but that they would not recommend that an older person who may get confused should self test. I guess I know what they mean, but I don't think its an age thing, just more to do with comprehension - especially where you need differing doses each day to get your level back again.

[OverlandLandy]

I have now got my Coagucheck XS tester.
It is pretty accurate <.2 variation vs the clinic machine.

As I travel away a lot at the moment it is really saving money already.

My work paid the full cost (as it saved them flight costs and me having to miss meetings). it was £399 from Roche direct (and no Vat was added).

I test on the same day of the week and just call the clinic if the reading has changed and they re-dose me.

Hope this helps

[Penny-Pincher!!]

I have now got my Coagucheck XS tester.
It is pretty accurate <.2 variation vs the clinic machine.

As I travel away a lot at the moment it is really saving money already.

My work paid the full cost (as it saved them flight costs and me having to miss meetings). it was £399 from Roche direct (and no Vat was added).

I test on the same day of the week and just call the clinic if the reading has changed and they re-dose me.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the reply. I bought one of these actually 2 months ago as I was having problems with the other one. I managed to buy when they had on special at £349 inc VAT. I take it into hospital with me as I am a regular inpatient and all consultants are very impressed with it as it saves them waiting 1hr for the results. Ive not had any problems at all.

PP
xx

[OverlandLandy]

Thanks for the reply. I bought one of these actually 2 months ago as I was having problems with the other one. I managed to buy when they had on special at £349 inc VAT. I take it into hospital with me as I am a regular inpatient and all consultants are very impressed with it as it saves them waiting 1hr for the results. Ive not had any problems at all.

PP
xx

Excellent - and a bargain to boot!

I forgot to say that my doc is happy to prescribe the lancets and the test strips. I also have a pre-payment certificate and living in Scotland its cheap for the 12 months, and eventually will cost £0 in 2 years time!

[Penny-Pincher!!]

My GP has perscribed everything for me, so am very lucky. It was a bargain!

PP
xx

[sooz]

Thanks for the reply. I bought one of these actually 2 months ago as I was having problems with the other one. I managed to buy when they had on special at £349 inc VAT. I take it into hospital with me as I am a regular inpatient and all consultants are very impressed with it as it saves them waiting 1hr for the results. Ive not had any problems at all.

PP
xx


Please can you tell me where you bought yours from? My father would love one of these, as he hates having to go into the clinic each time for testing. Last time he looked it was much much more expensive for a home tester.

[Trytosave]

3 months ago I purchased a HemoSense INRatio from the UK suppliers (Sysmex) I contacted them through Hemosense.com. They had a special offer on which was cheaper than the Coagucheck and the instrument includes controls in each strip, call me a control freak but I love knowing that each strip is working. As per Coagucheck the strips are on prescription and the company could not have been more helpful. My advice is to give them a call.:j

[Penny-Pincher!!]

Please can you tell me where you bought yours from? My father would love one of these, as he hates having to go into the clinic each time for testing. Last time he looked it was much much more expensive for a home tester.

It was direct from Roche:

http://www.coaguchek.com/uk/index.php?target=/en/professionals/products/coaguchek_xs_system

HTH

PP
xx

[Redbus2008]

I purchased an Coaguchek Xs from roche yesterday 21.08.08, the price is currently £299, but only for a limited time. their phone No is 08081007666

info on www.coaguchek.co.uk (http://www.coaguchek.co.uk)

[gymstaff]

[QUOTE=moneysaving pharmacist;7965349]Coagucheck machines are not available at NHS expense (but then neither are blood glucose meters). The test strips and lancets are available on prescription. The test strips need to be kept in the fridge, although the box isn't that large. I've only come across one or two patients with their own coagucheck.

Just received my INR machine which I bought through e-bay. I rang Roche to enquire about test strips and they were very helpful, even though the machine wasn't bought through them. My doctor said earlier this year that the test strips couldn't be prescribed as the PCT was against this. And yet it appears other areas can get the strips on prescription.

Is there now a case that if one area can prescribe items then all of the UK should have the same opportunity?

Your comments on this would be appreciated.

By the way - the machine was bought for holiday testing as it was costing between £30 and £40 when in Spain for each test.

Thanks

[advany]

I looked into buying this gadget, but the price is way too high. Over a thousand dollars.

[Penny-Pincher!!]

I looked into buying this gadget, but the price is way too high. Over a thousand dollars.

Are you based in the USA then? As statd above in the UK its around £249 BN

HTH

PP
xx

[aritla]

I am shortly to receive a Roche CoaguChek XS System so that I can monitor my INR at home. The funding for this is being supplied by the NHS and I was helped to obtain this by the local PCT and my GP who applied for "exceptional funding". The reason for this is because I have a needle phobia which was making life difficult because of the constant blood checks through having to take Warfarin.

However, when talking to the patient helpline at Roche I discovered that they make it easy for patients to obtain their own machines. There is a £50 discount at the moment - till the end of July 2009 - so it costs £349 but Roche have a scheme whereby a patient buying their own machine can have an interest free loan for 10 months. £35 a month for 10 months - not bad!

[aritla]

Roche CoaguChek XS System Patient helpline 08081007666
See above post

[VfM4meplse]

Coagucheck machines are not available at NHS expense (but then neither are blood glucose meters). The test strips and lancets are available on prescription. The test strips need to be kept in the fridge, although the box isn't that large. I've only come across one or two patients with their own coagucheck.

In the area I work the hospitals don't really do INR clinics - once a patient is initiated and reasonably stabilised they are looked after by a nurse led clinic at a GP surgery, or a pharmcist led clinic at a comunity pharmacy. This works well because it's easier and more convienent for patients to go to their GP surgey or a pharmacy than trek across to the hospital. Even if you were self testing you still need to be under the care of a clinic somewhere to take care of dose adjustment, although this could probably be done over the phone.

Penney-pincher, I wouldn't have thought your GP would have a problem prescribing warfarin for you if you were self testing, as you'd still be under the care of a clinic somewhere. At least it would mean your GP is aware of the fact that you are on warfarin (they aren't always - if the clinic supplies warfarin and communication breaks down somewhere then the GP may not know a patient is on warfarin).

You may be a MS pharmacist but you seem to have a singular lack of understanding of the key issue of clinical responsibility. Self-testing is fraught with risks, and should be reserved for only the most brittle patients under the direct care of a consultant haematologist. No prescriber should be providing a script solely on the basis of a patient's own INR readings. Maybe you should consult with the local experts - try your PCT medical / pharmaceutical advisers - before doling out bad advice. With the anti-coagulation services moving out into the community there is even less of a need for patients to self-test. If they wish to that is a "want" and not a clinical need, there is no obligation for the NHS to pick up the costs for unvalidated INR testing, particularly when there already is provision. Clearly there is a need to catch up on your CPD, try the NPSA alert that will offer you all kinds of insights into the safety issues around anticoagulants.

This site is not about giving health advice anyway!

[VfM4meplse]

Roche CoaguChek XS System Patient helpline 08081007666
See above post

This is an income-generating helpine for Roche, no more than that!

[~Chameleon~]

This is an income-generating helpine for Roche, no more than that!

How can it be an 'income-generating' helpline when it's a Freephone number? :confused:

[VfM4meplse]

How can it be an 'income-generating' helpline when it's a Freephone number? :confused:

Roche are being "helpful" to patients by suggesting all the unnecessary things that can be funded at the NHS' (ie taxpayer's) expense. That includes how to use their premium priced test strips and directing patients to their GPs for NHS prescriptions.

[spikeyblonde]

Roche are being "helpful" to patients by suggesting all the unnecessary things that can be funded at the NHS' (ie taxpayer's) expense. That includes how to use their premium priced test strips and directing patients to their GPs for NHS prescriptions.


I appreciate that Roche are a profit making organisation, at the end of the day they are a drugs/medical company. You mention this is an expense to taxpayers - well i am a tax payer, i was under the impression that being a tax payer meant i was entitled to a subsidised medical service? Premium priced test strips? These retail at approximately £200 for 48 tests - I do not know the exact figures but i would bet a lot of money that going to my local clinic, taking up time with a nurse (and the other people in the chain for making the appointment), using materials and resources in that particular clinic, petrol for travelling to the clinic (or additional expense for the local nurse to perform a home visit), couriering the samples across to the local testing site, performing the test in the lab (additional time and resource), then contacting each and everyone of the patients that then needs a new dose would cost a lot more than a rough price of £4.17 per test don't you agree? If you have specific numbers to contradict what i am saying would it be possible to publish them as this would be an interesting piece of information for me to perform further research.

I am a 29 year old professional who through no fault of my own now have to take warfarin for the rest of my life - do you really think it is practical for me to take weekly blood tests when it can quite easily be done from home (utilising FAR LESS resource and money) - also when travelling abroad with work i need to be able to test for the return journey to make sure i am safe to fly - again easier than approaching a foreign health service.

I assume you are on Warfarin yourself and it doesn't bother you to take a trip to the doctors this regularly (Hence your comments) - however not everyone has the same circumstances as yourself.

If anyone has anymore information on these self test machines please let me know as I am looking for one myself and have read various conflicting posts on this thread - so if there is any definitive advice that would be great.