Accuracy of UA meter

[ian41]

Hello all…Background info….I am 52 yrs old,dont drink or eat fish or much beef really. Could do with losing a few pounds but otherwise healthy and active. About ten years ago I started to get soreness in my right big toe which I put down to too much golf. About once or twice a year this occured in either one or the other toe. I thought it might be arthritis. I started using cherryactive juice which made it disappear. I stopped drinking this and within two weeks I had a serious flare up in both big toes and ankles!! The pain!!!!
I found Goutpal and following the excellent info went to see GP.Blood test completed for several functions all ok except..uric acid levels came back as 9.7!!….. Allopurinol prescribed 300 mg daily. I also bought a UA meter as suggested on goutpal . I have been on allo for about 4 months now. Self Tests encouraging starting at 6.7 and today at 4!! I know its only an indication official blood test mid Nov came back as 6.8 which was disappointing. Swelling has all but gone and no flare ups during this treatment yet! My feet feel ‘injured and tired ‘as described by another subscriber to this site but ok and getting/feeling better all the time.I self test regularly on a weekly basis and the numbers are consistently between 5 and 4. Last week I went for another official blood test for all functions which came back ok but UA still at 6.8 ???? This is at a significant variance with the self tests which concerns me. I am definitely feeling alot better ,swelling now gone completely and even the occasional ache in the toes and ankles have all but gone. I tend to believe that the meter is correctly showing a downward trend but wanted to know if anyone else has these quite large differences? This is a great site. Gave much reassurance reading others experiences and good answers. Thanks for your efforts Keith and happy new year to us all.

[Tavery]

I find the meter to be more accurate for several reasons.
1. I am able to test myself at a consistent time and circumstance…meaning right after my morning shower, but before any food or drink. Your UA will fluctuate over the day and things like exercise can cause the numbers to change.
2. Testing is more frequent and provides a better overall trend view than the snapshot doctor test.
3. Just because the test is done at the doctor, it does not make it more accurate. The blood in your home test is at body temperature, whereas most doctor offices will chill the blood or let it sit at room temp until it can be tested. With UA the temperature change can cause changes to crystal formation.
4. You know what you have been eating or drinking. Your doctor visits may coincide with peaks due to a recent meal choice

If you are truly concerned, try recalibrating your meter to a different test series and then back again and retest. Also, make sure you are using the correct droplet size. Too small of a drop can throw it off. Make sure your hands are properly clean and dried and that you have not contaminated the test strip with improper handling (touching the test area is a big no-no).

I would trust my meter over my doc any day when it comes to UA.

[ian41]

Thanks for the advice. You confirm what I had hoped/believed. I will start the consistent time method you suggest. Very good point you make about the storage of the doctors sample.

[Keith Taylor (GoutPal Admin)]

I agree with Tavery, and I’d like to take the opportunity, albeit belated, to wish everyone a Happy and Gout-Free New Year.

[digitaldreams]

I live in the US and find it difficult to order a UA meter. Do you guys have a direct link that works for one I could purchase. I want the meter that everyone else is using and proven.

thanks in advance.

James

[Keith Taylor (GoutPal Admin)]

All meters I have ever seen are manufactured in China or Taiwan. I do not know of any importer in the US. Most US citizens order from amazon.com or ebay.com

[Cujo]

I’ve bought UASure meter because it has decent reviews and i find it to be pretty consistent and reliable.

[digitaldreams]

Ok I’m really thinking of getting the UASure meter but don’t see it on ebay or amazon and since I’m in the USA guess I will need to order internationally from: http://www.uricacidtest.com/

Is it possible to use any Uric Acid test strips with this meter or do I need to buy them for the specific meter. With the Conversion rate it is going to get expensive. Was hoping I can use the Easytouch strips in this meter.

I also see this meter but didn’t know if anyone has tried it:
http://www.homeuricacidtest.com/index.html

[Cujo]

With UASure meter you can only use strips that are specific to this type.
I’ve mentioned UASure because it is popular where i live. I bet there are many reliable meters.

[Dorian Kramer]

Just so everybody knows and please make this widely known, I ordered my easymate from amazon, I went to call customer support because there were a few weird readings, the number had a Chinese accented recording saying there was no existing number, when I went to look on amazon I couldn’t find my order history, when I went to look for the item it was removed from amazon, I could only find any info when I typed in reviews, the review revealed that easymate does not supply to amazon or ebay,

[Dorian Kramer]

also to digitaldream, the second page you mentioned, when ordered goes to homelab diagnostics who have not answered any of my queries about if they are licensed by biooptik the makers of easymate, when I tried to email the contact on the page you put up it came back as a bad address and no answer to phone calls

[Author]

Posts