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!!

mr_rush wrote: »

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!!

sillyvixen wrote: »

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!!

moneysaving_pharmacist wrote: »

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?