A1CNow+, Hba1c Blood Monitor w/ Sampler, 20 Test Kit

so easy to use and worth it to help keep track of progress. im very happy with this purchase

I checked my A1c once a month. It just so happens I had a lab test on an A1c so I use this first and then had the test an hour later. The numbers were 1/10 of a point difference!

I have used this product for weekly A1c testing for several years. My practice has been to have two boxes of 20 tests, and each week I test using one from A and one from B, and every three months I check it against my doctor's lab test.Generally works pretty well, and pretty accurate, common to have the two tests as much as 0.5 apart but often the two tests + the lab are within a 0.2 range.The problem I have is with increasing issue with quality control, but more significantly with the company's policy about handling failed units. About a year ago, I had a unit stop working after a few tests. They asked a bunch of questions, asked me to return the failed unit, and sent me a new box. No problem with that.This time, one of my units failed on the second test, and has a recurring intermittent problem. It is definitely a loose connection of some kind, if you press the case with your thumb it comes back to life and I can often get it to work. But at $10 per failure it is frustrating.This time, customer support was extremely unhelpful. First they tried to say that I wasn't using it right (after several years, and the other box is working fine right alongside it). Then, they "as a one time exception" agreed to replace my 20 unit box with a 4 unit box. This is because "the 10 and 20 unit boxes are for medical providers, you are not allowed to buy them".The per test cost of the 4 unit box is of course about twice the cost of the 10 and 20 unit boxes. Same controller, same procedure, just comes with more cartridges and is programmed for 20 tests instead of 4 tests.So, (1) with a clearly failed unit, the company simply says policy is that you're out of luck, no replacement, they have your $188 and that's the deal; (2) they would like to control the channel so that regular people who want to take the test are *not allowed* to take advantage of a volume discount package for an item that doesn't need a prescription and is not legally limited in any way I can see.The unit isn't bad, when it works. When it fails, it is expensive because each test cartridge is essentially $19 and once it fails you've burned $19. And the company wants to rake in extra profit from the diabetic user market (pretty appalling for a company whose whole business is supposed to be serving people with diabetes) and doesn't stand behind it's product AT ALL. Doesn't work, too freaking bad!

Easy to use. Make sure you have a good large drop of blood to fill up the sample delivery tube. Test directions are straight forward. Reader will work with 20 devices. Reader does not have a history to view at a later time. Make sure you write down your numbers. I compared the results of this test with a laboratory result with blood drawn less than an hour apart and the numbers were within 10% of each other. 6.0 vs 6.6. A1C is supposed to be a measure of an average blood glucose level over 3 months. Not exactly accurate. You could have 1 month of bad glucose control and two excellent months and still read high. Basically the test measures glycated hemoglobin. Since blood cells last about 3 months, changes are slow. Also, once the cell is glycated it can't be "undone". So a glycated hemoglobin cell will be around 3 months later. I test on a 3 week basis. 1 box will last about a year. A caution, if you take aspirin your numbers will read high. Ingestion of aspirin may also increase hemoglobin acetylation and lead to misinterpretation of results.

This seems to be working well. With 20 tests seems to work as described. I have to corelate with a real b test at some point but the numbers are in the right area. I am interested in the trend rather than the individual number. This is good and convenient for that. Works out to approx $10 per test. They are easy enough to do. Be aware they do not include a needle to pierce skin. You need to have this already or buy device.

.. Ordered it on he 13th arrived quickly on the 16th. read the instructions and was a bit apprehensive but it turned out to be no more complicated than a normal blood sugar test just a longer waiting time for the results. 20 tests kit with a one year expiration date 03/2024. The only problem is that package #2 has no lot number as specified in the instructions. Will call the manufacturer to check it out and post the follow up.Follow Up:------------------------------------------ called the company about the pack #2 lot numbers the agent informed me that the Serial and Lot numbersare now impressed into the foil packets along the lower edge rather than thePrinted format shown on the instruction flyers.Also that to insure the usability till the expiration dates the meter and test packetsMUST be refrigerated at 36 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit. For use they should be at room temperatures of the 70+ degree range best to remove from the cold for about an hour or two prior to testing.

Being a nurse, I know the importance of checking for diabetes. My random finger sticks were above 120 after fasting for 12 hours, so I bought this kit from the pharmacy and made an urgent call to my doc to get me started on diabetes meds. We rechecked the results by having an outside lab run another A1c, but since I also knew my fasting glucose was elevated (twice, weeks apart), we went ahead and started meds anyway. Results came in days later, only 0.3 points off from what this kit said. Overall, a great kit to have handy, and surprisingly accurate!