EasyTouch GU

[healeyguy]

I recently acquired an EasyTouch GU monitor. I’ve tested my UA content several times over the past while and am not convinced that the readings are accurate (or even close) making the device useless to me.

Currently, I’m getting readings between 150 and 200 which I believe to be too low. I test my blood every month using an outside service and the range is between 290 and 350 depending upon my current dose of Allapurinol.

That being said, last month i used the meter within 10 minutes of having a blood sample taken by the outside service and they measured very close (350 versus 333).

Does anybody else have doubts about the meter?

[Keith Taylor (GoutPal Admin)]

I do not have doubts about the meter, but I have strong doubts about the ease of use for people who are not naturally methodical.

When you take a professional blood test, the blood draw takes place under strictly controlled conditions. These are difficult to replicate at home, but there are things you can do to give yourself the best chance of a consistent, uncontaminated test sample.

Starting with clean hands, always test at the same time each day (unless you are trying to investigate the effects of certain lifestyle or other changes). Also test at the same time related to your previous meal.

Always use the same setting on the lancet, but adjust this if the blood droplet size is larger or smaller than the recommended droplet size described in the instructions. Once you have pricked your finger, always test the blood immediately.

Try to test in consistent temperature. Above all, be aware of your test conditions, and try to keep everything the same.

You can usually discount the first few tests, until you have established a consistent test routine.

I maintain that your first port of call for blood testing is your doctor. If that is inconvenient, or you want more frequent testing, then consider your own test kit at home. But only do this if you can be confident that you can develop, and consistently apply, your own personal test routine.

[Keith Taylor (GoutPal Admin)]

Thanks @mike-trieu. It is important to note that, whilst uric acid meters are generally very accurate, testing a drop of blood from a pinprick is more open to error than testing blood drawn from a vein.

That is why I recommend a strict, consistent routine for testing the blood. It is important to think about where inconsistencies can creep in, and do your best to eliminate these. Common problems are:

• Contamination from unclean skin
• Different droplet size
• Inconsistent time since last meal

In addition, a small droplet size, compared to a lab test blood draw, is more prone to variation from localized changes in uric acid level. There is little you can do to avoid this, other than focus on averages, and omit results that are abnormally low or high.

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