When we talk about blood glucose meter specs, we usually consider how fast the meter is and the sample size. That’s because few meters have any accuracy worth talking about.But one small company concentrates on accuracy. And this company, AgaMatrix Inc. in Salem, New Hampshire, just came out wi...
The Accurate AgaMatrix Inc Diabetes Meter
5/ 5/07 3:24am
I thought I understood what a precise and accurate meter was. But your article about the Keynote meter was confusing.
You tested the Keynote against your Aviva and found that the Aviva was within one point of the Keynote for each of the tests. This comparison proved to you that the Aviva was accurate. The logic was that the sales person said that the Keynote is accurate so the Aviva must be accurate if its results compared favorably with the Keynote.
Then you said that other testing of the Aviva showed that it was not precise. My understanding is that if a meter is not precise, it cannot be accurate. How can a meter that cannot reproduce the same result with the same blood be considered accurate when compared to a laboratory test of the blood?
More importantly to me is the new Keynote meter and its claims. You seemed to be convinced that it is the most accurate meter and then (if I understand accuracy and precision) it is among the most precise meters also. Have you tested the meter to confirm these vender claims? Or have you seen independent testing to that effect? Or do you have some knowledge that the vendor's claims are true?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions, I'll probably start using the meter once Caremark starts carrying it. Thanks for all of the great info you provide us pin cushions.
5/ 6/07 7:40am
Thanks for this useful review. I'd love to know more about the software. What kind of stats does it provide? How easy is it to export readings from the software?
I've been on a mission for some time to get manufacturers to think about supporting a standard for blood glucose data, perhaps AgaMatrix would be more open to this as they are a newer company. For more see the abstract on my paper from the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology: http://www.journalofdst.org/March2007/pdf/JDST-Vol-2-Abstracts/VOL-1-2-CGM1-FARRELL-ABS.pdf
I've been on a mission for some time to get manufacturers to think about supporting a standard for blood glucose data, perhaps AgaMatrix would be more open to this as they are a newer company. For more see the abstract on my paper from the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology: http://www.journalofdst.org/March2007/pdf/JDST-Vol-2-Abstracts/VOL-1-2-CGM1-FARRELL-ABS.pdf
5/11/07 3:03pm
I read the article and was interesed in your evaluation of the Keynote Meter. I checked my insurance company ... they of course have not heard of the Keynote Meter or the Agramatrix Company.
In contacted the Agramatrix Company and they sent a Meter with 50 strips. I have tested the machine for about a week .. a wonderful machine ...
I used the Accu-Chek Aviva Meter. I performed a comparison check of both meter. The Aviva was 7 to 12 points higher than the Keynote Meter. The average number ... the Aviva was 6.75 higher than the Keynote.
I have switched to the Keynote Meter. I have found Keynote test strips at $18.79 per 50 .... at http://www.allegromedical.com ... in the search box type Keynote.
5/14/07 7:24pm
If you want a truly accurate non-invasive glucometer that is within 98% of the lab, check out Biosign Technologies 'UFIT'. They're located in Ontario, Canada and their modest website is www.biosign.com
They obtain blood glucose, blood pressure and heart monitoring from the arterial pulse in the wrist. The UFIT device is small, user friendly and you can e-mail or print results from it. Biosign is now a public company trading on a junior exchange called the CNQ under the symbol BIOS. I hear that they are presently entertaining some large potential strategic partners now that they've obtained IEEE blessing and the GAMUT trials have proven to be very successful.
Keep your eye on this one. I think that it's only a matter of time before Biosign is 'discovered'.
2/12/10 12:07pm
The day has arrived! Yesterday, Feb. 12, 2010, Biosign Technologies Inc. announced in press releases it had been assessed and certified as meeting the requirements of the ISO and EEC for automated wrist blood pressure and blood glucose monitors. This allows Biosign to add NON-INVASIVE blood glucose monitoring to its offerings in the European Union and other regions that recognize these certifications. No more test strips and near lab accurate readings to start! There is about to be a paradigm shift in Healthcare and this company could be the good news story of the decade!!
5/18/07 4:27pm
David,
I just tried the wavesense keynote meter. There were some things I liked about it. Less blood and faster than my one touch ultrasmart. It seems to be very accurate but can't really tell without comparing to lab blood work. Where my one touch tends to read a little lower than lab (5-10 points lower than blood draw) this meter seems to read about 7 points higher than my one touch which probably means that it is closer to my lab results. The software seems to be very compareable with my lifescan software. My endo loves lifescans reports/charts. The meter is small and lightweight I would guess about half the weight of the onetouch ultrasmart.
That being said.......There were some problems.
1) The test strips are not available in Washington state from pharmacies. My insurance will not pay for the meter but would pay for the strips according to my plan if I could find a pharmacy that carries them.
2) You still have to code for the test strips. Boo Hisssssss!
3) Although the company claims that you can get before and after meal bg averages it is inflexible and would not work accurately for someone who does not eat at exactly the same time each day. The averages are aparently based upon the time the meter believes are typical times for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bed. You can change the meal time in the software but it would apply to all readings. In order to make notes you would have to upload the data every day.
I had such hope for this meter and software. The problems with before and after meals testing is a make or break for me. I do not know why programmers seem to think that people are rigid little robots whose schedules never vary day to day.
4) Use of the meter settings and buttons is ackward.
5) Lancing device used for alternative sites has too small an opening so it is difficult not to smear the blood if you are a hard draw like me. But there are plenty of other companies who make lancing devices that work for me. Not a make or break problem.
I hope that they will fix the meal time problem and will add exercise tracking since that has a big effect on bg.
If they fix these problems and get strips available on the west coast I would try the product again.
cindy
5/18/07 5:28pm
Cindy,
You make an excellent point about inflexible meal time tracking. That is something that I have been writing about for years, and only LifeScan listens to us.
About lack of strip availability in Washington State, I would suggest that you contact Agamatrix. They should be able to tell you where you can find them.
You make an excellent point about inflexible meal time tracking. That is something that I have been writing about for years, and only LifeScan listens to us.
About lack of strip availability in Washington State, I would suggest that you contact Agamatrix. They should be able to tell you where you can find them.
5/18/07 6:42pm
6/ 5/07 2:33pm
8/19/07 10:20pm
Something not in the review is that the software is EXTRA...to the tune of $40 extra.
I am sick and freaking tired of these companies. I was seriously going to consider this monitor because, well it looks very accurate, is fairly priced and has very reasonably priced test strips. And I like David am very leery of how accurate the Aviva strips & monitor are. And the costs for my One Touch strips are just too over the top...
But to charge more for the software needed to actually make the data meaningful if just, well, pure greed. The One Touch software is FREE.
And I for one am tired of these companies and their predatory greed.
They call their box with the meter a "kit"...bull, what about it makes it a "kit"...it's a meter, maybe a case and a lancing device. BFD...that does not a "kit" make....add the software and cable and you have a "kit". What is being called a "kit" now is just a testing device not unlike a transistor radio or MP3 player and I do not see companies calling those "kits"...kit implies making something or processing data.
BTW, I paid LESS for the accounting software I have used for almost 20-years then they want for this data management software. And, oh yeah, the proprietary cable can be made for like $3 once you know the pin assignments and that can be figured out...
Sorry to sound so very negative, but my RA is screaming and my BS goes nuts if I even look at carbs these days...I am just, well, grumpy... :)
Thanks for the wonderful info you put out online...it HELPS!!!
8/21/07 3:24pm
10/ 6/07 8:46am
Hi,
I've had severe RA for more than 30 years and have tried just about all the meds with little luck until I found Minocin 3.5 years ago. When I went to the Rheumatologist at Harvard Medical School he told me the drug would make me well within 6 months...alas, it only took 26 days. That's right, only 26 days after almost being unable to walk from the subway to the doctor's office (6 blocks) I was riding my mountain bicycle 6-8 miles a day. Since that time I have had zero pain, zero inflamation, zero problems. And this on a safe, effective drug called Minocin.
To check all this out, and to begin a whole new existance, go to www.roadback.org. I'm going to guess it will be the most important thing you ever do....
All my best,
Winston
P.S. If you would like to discuss my experience with this protocol with me I can be reached at fastspinW@yahoo.com. That said, I am going on vacation on 10/06/07 and won't be back for 8 days.
10/ 6/07 10:40am
10/ 7/07 3:57pm
Weird because it has been free for a few years now. But, I just checked the US LifeScan site and cannot locate the free download link of their site. Seems they might indeed be charging for the software, sort of...and in the US only.
You can still download the software free on the European site:
http://www.lifescaneurope.com/uk/products/otdms/software/
Hard to swallow they are trying to get more and more out of each of us here is the US. Perhaps it is time to setup an open source project on Source Forge.
Basically all you are paying for is the $39 for a cable. The only thing the cable does is download your test results auto-magically from the meter. You do not need the cable as you can manually enter the test results. I mean geeze it takes but a few moments to enter results every now and then.
So save the $39 and simply download the software and use it for free. It's very nice and has some excellent reports included. My doc loves them. Saved me the hassle of creating a spreadsheet.
BTW, another free option would be to use Google's free online spreadsheet application...or even OpenOffice (free Office like suite) which includes a spreadsheet similar to Excel.
But OneTouch's software is freely downloadable from their site and can be used with any monitor is ya just enter the data (test results and a few other tidbits) manually.
If any finds any decent free open source BG software maybe drop David an email. He can take a peek and let us know what he thinks.
10/14/07 9:43am
David,
That's weird! I would have sworn that there was a previous post on this thread referring to RA...I posted my comments in reference to that post but I can't find the post now...
All that said, I have posted about this much safer and more effective treatment for RA on many sites devoted to treatment of that disease and I will certainly keep doing so. Not often in medicine that you find a med that actually does what it promises to do...
All best,
Winston
12/22/07 9:14am
Just thought I would follow-up. I did find the link on the LifeScan US site to download the software:
http://www.lifescan.com/products/otdms/download/
It looks like an "upgrade" but should download and install just fine as a new or clean install.
BTW after 5 emails I still never heard ANYTHING back from AgaMatrix/WaveSense folks. So I just gave up on them.
Hope the link helps someone out!
12/25/07 5:39pm
3/ 6/08 2:00pm
Hi,
I just wanted to let everyone know that Holliday Health Care Products is running a promotion this week on the Keynote starter kit and test strips. You get a free starter kit if you buy 100 strips. You save almost $50 off the retail price of the meter and strips purchased seperately. There is no approval process and they ship directly to you.
Here is the address:
http://www.hollidayhealth.com/catalog/keynote.php
Regards,
David B.
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My 74 year old dad is always wiping off his lances with a paper towel and reusing them. Does this effect the outcome of the blood test significantly?
Also, my dad is losing his eyesight and he needs a blood glucose meter that actually audibly reads out his reading. What meter is good for that?
Anyway, I have to go to his family medical doctor tomorrow to find out about long term care and what it will take to activate his long term care policy. With his eyesight going it should be no problem to get him qualified, he just has a 90 day deductible to meet before the insurance kicks in. Wish me luck