CardioChek ST Analyzer Problems?

09-20-2006, 11:45 AM

What is the verdict on this machine in regards to accuracy
and consistency in the readings?

We just purchased this machine for cholesterol and blood
sugar testing and this will be our 3rd time using it, each time the readings are completely wacko.

I can post the data later, but I'm curious on what your
experience with this machine is. Either this machine isn't
very good, we have a broken machine, or we are doing something wrong during the test.

1st time - Patient fasted, used the 'One Touch' blood sugar
monitor, then CardioChek ST, then went into the hospital
for complete blood work labs.

We compared this data. The 'One Touch' monitor that
we've been using for blood sugar testing is pretty accurate
and consistent in the readings. The CardioChek reading was
in the 30 range {should be 160 - 180 range}.

CardioChek ST cholesterol scores were not even in the same ballpark as the hospital labs.

2nd time - We tried the test 2 weeks later and the CardioChek blood sugar level readings were better,
but much lower than 'One Touch' monitor. The Cholesterol
levels were consistent amongst each type of test, but overal much lower than the hospital labs.

3rd time - After the second time using CardioChek, we waited 4 days to redo the tests again to correlate the data.
The same procedure is being used in every test; ie fasting overnight, doing the test in the morning, same everything.
Some of the cholesterol level readings are wacko vs. 4 day ago.

We are going to do another test this Saturday to get more data, but it seems to me that something is wrong,
the CardioCheck is not reading accurate, not reading consistent over a short span of time and we are doing the
same procedure every time.

Data;

9/8/06;
Glucose: Hospital Lab: 185 | CardioChek: 34 | One Touch: 187
Cholesterol: Hospital Lab: 198 | CardioChek: <100
HDL: Hospital Lab: 36 | CardioChek: <25
Triglyceride: Hospital Lab: 302 | CardioChek: 120
LDL: Hospital Lab: 101 | CardioChek: 51

9/10/06;
Glucose: CardioChek: 163 | One Touch: 167

9/16/06;
Glucose: CardioChek: 145 | One Touch: 173

9/20/06
Glucose: CardioChek: 190 | One Touch: 201
Cholesterol: Hospital Lab: 198 | CardioChek: <197
HDL: Hospital Lab: 36 | CardioChek: 29
Triglyceride: Hospital Lab: 302 | CardioChek: 197
LDL: Hospital Lab: 101 | CardioChek: 128.6

Issues are:

1. On 9/8/06, the CardioChek data is wacko. Even the simple glucose test is so wrong.
2. On 9/10/06, only glucose test was done and the numbers look correct.
3. On 9/16/06, the CardioChek is ready too low.
4. On 9/20/06, the CardioChek data is pretty good except the Triglyeride reading is wacko which causes LDL to be wrong too.

We will do two more tests to correlate data. I'm not looking for absolute numbers per se, I'm looking for numbers that
are consistent so we can track the patient's 'delta' for future treatment plans.

09-21-2006, 05:15 AM

On issue #4, how much time elapsed between the triglyceride Cardio-Check and the hospital blood draw?

I have no personal experience but two people on these boards some time ago got good consistency with cardio check but neither was interested in glucose levels.

I smell an inconsistency: Do you realize that the hospital values for the two lipid draws are IDENTICAL? Did you do a big typo or is it possible that the lab sent you back the wrong results, i.e., another copy of the SAME results from the early draw? Probability of IDENTICAL values for all readings 12 days apart is vanishingly small.

09-21-2006, 10:09 AM

The hospital lab was only done one time, on 9/8/06.

I just copied that data into the other date fields for
comparisons.

I will know more as the week progresses. I'm in the process of 100% ruling out human error first,
as I'm suspicious that this machine may be very sensative to procedure.

09-22-2006, 05:47 AM

My guess too.

I think there was a learning curve operating causing a wrecked set of readings on 9/8 but a valid set on 9/20.

09-23-2006, 01:39 PM

Today's data;

One Touch blood sugar: 207
CardioChek blood sugar: 193
CardioChek cholesterol: 198
CardioChek blood HDL: 35
CardioChek triglyceride: 247

The problem is now narrowed down on the consistent whacko triglyceride readings.

That 247 number is too weird {hosiptal score = 302}, the previous reading from 3 days ago was 197, then going further back the reading was 274.

We redid the trig test 2 times today, minutes apart and
got very disturbing numbers.

First trig test today: 247
Second trig test minutes later: 164
Third trig test minutes later: 117

I have ruled out human error so there is three more
variables that can cause these very strange numbers.

A. The CardioChek monitor we have is defective.
B. The CardioChek monitor doesn't work for trig testing.
C. The test strip samples we bought are ALL defective.

09-23-2006, 02:30 PM

Hi,

I use the single test CardioChek unit and it does a great job. I tested my wife's TC last week at 174 and two hours later she was 169 at the Dr's office. My HDL is so high it goes off scale at >85 on the unit. My dr. usually tests me at 75 to 80. Are you using the single test unit or the multi test unit at one time unit?

09-25-2006, 02:40 PM

I'm using one test strip per test type. I called the company and they are sending out a sample of Trig
test strips to double check and some free test strips
to check the machine.

The online company I bought the unit from will exchange
my trig test strips as it's near expiration date. We shall
see Mr. Frodo.

09-27-2006, 05:31 PM

I'm betting that the test strips are the problem. I'll be interested to hear of your findings.

Thanks,
Running_Guy

09-29-2006, 09:26 AM

Update:

1. Our triglyceride testing has been yielding wacko numbers, 274, 197, 247, 164, 117 of which the last three
scores were done minutes apart, the rest were done weeks
past. We suspect bad trig test strips as they expire in 3 months.

2. The manufacturer sent out 6 trig test strips so I can verify, plus they sent me the control test liquid to test the
machine.

3. The new trig test strips passed the control test,
scoring 138 on the low side, 211 in the high side.

4. I took the suspect 'old' trig test strips and ran the control liquid. They also pass the test scoring 135 on
the low side, 208 on the high side.

5. I ran the controls on the glucose, total cholesterol,
and ketone and according to the data, the machine is
working properly.

I still haven't solve the problem on the erroneous
triglyercide test scores when doing blood samples.
I sent back the trig bottle as it expires soon and
I will keep collecting data to see how this machine operates
trying to rule out as much human error.

The manufacturer recommended that you wipe off the first blood
drop after poking your finger, then squeeze a new blood for sample.
We will try this next. The next blood test is Saturday, I will see
what the data shows.

09-29-2006, 05:18 PM

Question - Are you using the 15 microliter pipets to apply the blood sample to the strip?

09-30-2006, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by running_guy

Question - Are you using the 15 microliter pipets to apply the blood sample to the strip?

Yes

Gathering more data. I will form a conclusion in
a few weeks. It seems this machine is sensitive to
procedure, one wrong step and all bets are off.
We shall see....

CardioChek ST Analyzer Problems?

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