This evaluation was posted originally in misc.health.diabetes and
alt.support.diabetes, and is re-posted here with the permission of the
author.
================================
NEW FREESTYLE METER EVALUATION
================================
I've always wondered what it would be like to be a major league baseball
player, and to hit a home run the first time at bat. Of course, I'll
never
know, but the people at TheraSense have done the equivalent in
introducing
their FreeStyle meter. From this new, start-up company has come a real
winner.
This new entry in the market has established, and will establish, a new
standard in the
blood glucose meter market; however, my enthusiasm will be somewhat
diminished
until the release of the data management software, which shall be
discussed
later.
I was very dubious about this product, what with all the delays they
have
experienced in getting the meter to the end-users. I began tracking the
FreeStyle announcements not
long after I tried one of the AtLast meters in March, because the
FreeStyle,
like the AtLast was announced to be able to use alternative site
(forearms)
testing. Having decided that the AtLast meter was an absolute
aberration, I
thought that the FreeStyle *had* to be better, and it was also
represented
as
requiring an incredibly small blood sample. So, I waited and called,
and
called and
waited, until, finally, yesterday, I was able to actually buy one at my
local Wal-Mart
store.
By that time, I had already talked extensively with a CDE about the
meter,
which she has had for quite some time, and with the techs in a testing
lab,
where the meter has been for some time, as well. Their view of the
meter
was that it
seemed to work all right, but it was still new, and they were not
inclined
to abandon the Glucometer Elite XL, which had been their choice for
testing
at that point. FreeStyle was only one of many meters that they had been
supplied with by their manufacturers as a part of their publicity
campaigns.
I asked about alternative site testing, and they said they had not
tried it.
About the small blood sample, they observed that they didn't notice it
was
appreciably different -- because they used their standard lancing
devices --
and had never tried the lancet supplied with the FreeStyle meter. With
those discussions and my actual tests since obtaining the meter, I have
been able to develop the following findings and recommendations, which I
submit for your consideration and comments.
======================
METER CHARACTERISTICS
======================
The FreeStyle meter is a compact, sleek meter, about the size of the
LifeScan Fast Take meter. It measures about 4" in length, and 2" in
width,
with a thickness of about 1". It weighs about 3 ounces, including the
weight of two replaceable AAAA batteries. The display numbers are in
LCD
and
are about 1/2" high, not as large as some meters, but more than
adequate in
size for most people. The meter has two buttons, much like other
contemporary meters; one button is marked "m" and the other is
marked "c"
very much like the LifeScan FastTake. The meter is turned on
automatically
upon the insertion of a test strip, or it may be turned on manually for
viewing data values. It may be turned off manually, or will turn off
automatically after the last action of the meter. There is sufficient
memory for storing 250 tests. Measurement units of either mmoL or
mg/dl may
be decided in the meter setup protocol. The meter uses an
electromechanical
assay method, and is plasma calibrated, more like lab results than whole
blood calibration. The manual represents that results are returned in
nominally 15 seconds, a little less for lower readings, a little more
for
higher readings. Unlike the FastTake meter, which has a single port that
serves as both the strip receptacle and the data port, the FreeStyle has
separate ports, one for strips, and one for data.
=====================
STRIP CHARACTERISTICS
=====================
Strips for the FreeStyle are about the same size as those for the
FastTake,
with the FreeStyle strips being about 1/2 in longer at 1/1/4 inches,
and
both being about 1/4 inch wide. Like many of the newer strips in the
industry, FreeStyle strips use the "sipping" or capillary technology,
whereby the blood sample is drawn into the strip for testing. These
strips,
however, rather than using the end of the strip for siphoning, use a
couple
of "insets" about 1/8 from the end of the strip, with either inset being
usable (but not both) for a sample. If after 5 seconds, the meter has
not
given an acknowledgment that the blood sample is adequate, the inset
(but
only that one) can be used for up to 60 seconds to add to the blood
already
in the sample.
=================
BLOOD SAMPLE SIZE
=================
The blood sample requirement for the FreeStyle meter is 0.3 uL
(microliters). The sample size of 1.5 uL for the Fast Take meter is 5
times
greater; the
sample of 2 uL for the Glucometer Elite XL is almost 7 times greater;
and
the sample size of 10 uL for the older Lifescan Profile is 33 times
greater.
I have difficulty envisioning 0.3 uL blood samples; however, the
literature
characterized them as being the size of a pin head, which is, indeed,
small
by
most samples I have taken over the years. Frankly, I have always gotten
this meter to work, sometimes with a substantial surplus blood sample,
but
never has it failed to work even on samples that heretofore would have
been
too
tiny with other meters. To me, this significant reduction in blood
sample
size, represents a truly signal accomplishment in meter evolution, and,
in
particular, obsoletes most of the older meters requiring far too large a
blood sample according to these new standards.
===========================
BLOOD SAMPLE PROCUREMENT
===========================
My primary interest in the FreeStyle meter, as I said earlier, was its
ability to procure blood samples from "alternative" sites, ostensibly
the
forearms, rather than the fingers. LifeScan has been touting its
FastTake
meter as supporting such use, since the introduction of its FastDraw
strips
requiring only 1.5 uL blood samples. Some people in the newsgroups have
reported success in doing this, especially when using the Bayer
Vaculance
lancet device. I have done just that, and I know it works, too. The
same
is true for the FreeStyle meter. Unlike some other offerings of
alternative
site testing, this meter is *not* an either/or situation. The lancet
holder comes with two heads, one for forearm testing, and the other for
fingersticking. Both work equally well. I used both the lancets
provided
with the meter and my favorite, BD Ultrafine II lancets, which the
lancet
holder accepted quite well. I believe the lancets that came with the
meter
are about 25 gauge thickness, while the BD Ultrafine II lancets are
about 29
gauge. In addition, I tested using a number of other lancing devices
from
other manufacturers, and was able to successfully test using all of
them.
===========================
DATA MANAGEMENT FACILITIES
===========================
I mentioned earlier that my enthusiasm for the FreeStyle meter was
somewhat
tempered by a lack of information regarding the data management system
that
is to support the FreeStyle meter. Many of you are aware of my efforts
to
have the
manufacturers provide at least a modicum of standardized capability to
download data from meters without
users having to buy into the full bore of data management software
supplied
for sale by the meter manufacturers.
As an example, I have long advocated that users should be able to
download
meter data into a
comma-delimited ASCII file. This capability would be a multi-edged
sword:
1) It would allow users to take advantage of software such as
Access, Excel, Quattro Pro, and many other database or spreadsheet
program
already available on their computers, and with which ASCII input is
acceptable, without their having to shell out additional monies for
software
developed by meter manufacturers, hardly experts in the field of data
management, manipulation and presentation.
2) It would allow users with non-Windows platforms to enjoy the
benefits of meter downloads, which many, if not most are foreclosed from
doing today.
3) It would open up a venue for third party software
developers,
who could offer a broad array of programs/techniques or schema using the
aforementioned standard software packages.
To show just how ludicrous the current practice is, both the LifeScan
InTouch software and the Bayer WinGlucofacts software use an Access
database
architecture, both incompatible with the other, and foreclosing the
possibility that a single user could commingle data from both sources --
without manual intervention. Further, everybody's cable is not
compatible
with any other data cable. The only compatibility is that many use a
standard RCA stereo plug; however, the TheraSense cable has yet another
type
plug. Is there no industry association that can help overcome this
morass?
At any rate, I have received a little information about the data
management
software that is to be released by TheraSense. This information came
from
reliable sources within the company, and I was told it was available for
publication. Very simply, the software package will produce some eight
types
of reports and/or graphs, will cost about $75 including the cable, and
will
be available "soon."
Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.
======================
METER AND STRIP PRICES
======================
Everything has a price, and meters and strips are no exception.
Contrary to
some beliefs, they *are* no free meters, which we shall discuss later.
As I
said, I bought the FreeStyle meter at Wal-Mart. Accordingly, the
following
price
comparisons are based on Wal-Mart prices. I'm sure there are as many
variations in
these prices as there are stores, but I used the Wal-Mart standard,
because
it is a fairly
widespread organization.
The cost of the FreeStyle meter was $69.48 or $70, less a $40 rebate,
yielding a net price of $30. No trade-in is offered.
A LifeScan FastTake meter costs $65.31 or $65, less a $20 rebate and a
$45
trade-in yielding a net cost of $0. This also compares with the "free"
meter many of
us received in this newsgroup this summer.
By comparison, then the FreeStyle meter cost $30 more than the
FastTake, but
let's look at comparative strip prices. The price for 50 FreeStyle
strips
is $36.86,
while the cost of 50 FastTake strips is $38.84, a difference of $2.00
per
package or 4� per strip.
Based on my doing four tests a day, if I use the FreeStyle instead of
the
FastTake, I save 16� per day, which would make up the difference in
meter
prices in 125 days or just over
four months. Thereafter, I can realize annual savings of about $58 by
continuing to use the FreeStyle
meter and strips.
If the FreeStyle were not considered, and I used only the FastTake
meter,
the cost of the "free" meter would be $116 over two years (based on the
differential of 4� per strip more for the FastTake strips). Free
meter? Go
figure.
========================
SHOULD I BUY ONE OR NOT?
========================
I bought the meter I used for this evaluation, with the plan to return
it
for a full refund, since the meter has a 30-day money back guarantee. I
said earlier that I was dubious about the meter, so my bases were
covered --
get the meter for the evaluation, and get my money back after I didn't
like
it. Well, as you can tell, that's all changed, so I'm keeping
the "slightly
used" FreeStyle meter that I have.
But what should anyone else do? That's not for me to say, because every
person's circumstances are different.
Clearly, those persons having no discretion in selecting brands of
meters
and strips, viz-a-viz, HMOs, will not be able to buy one of the
FreeStyle
meters, but they can encourage their HMO or supplier to put FreeStyle
on the
"acceptable" list. Anyone having a fairly new meter, or somebody who
feels
that (s)he just doesn't need a need a new meter, or anyone not impressed
with what I have written, should not be interested in the new meter.
People, who are currently using a meter with data management
capabilities,
may wish to wait until the data management scenario has been completely
clarified before buying into this new meter.
On the other side of the coin, there are compelling reasons for some of
the
following people to want one of the new meters. The first, is anyone
who
may have problems in getting an adequate blood sample using the current
technology. Next, is anyone wishing to really try the alternative site
(forearms) for testing, but who is unable to do so with their current
meter.
Another person might be anyone with one of the older meters, which is
hopelessly antiquated by the new FreeStyle technology. Finally, all
those
people that would like to save money on test strips can do so with this
new
technology and the FreeStyle meter.
The company website, www.therasense.com, contains all kinds of
information
about
this product, corporate officers, and a lot of other things.
===========
DISCLAIMER
===========
The foregoing findings and recommendations are solely the opinions of
the
author, who is in no way connected with any meter manufacturing and/or
sales organization. To the extent that questions can be answered, they
may
be directed here or in e-mail.
--
Try gentleness and kindness -- it comes with a
30-day money back guarantee. If, after that time
it doesn't work, you can return to being your
mean, ugly self !!!
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
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