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Control solution or blood sample? VivaChek knows the difference

Control solution or blood sample? VivaChek knows the difference

Thursday 17th October 2019

Most popular blood glucose meter models still require the user to 'tell' the meter when a control solution is being used, usually by pressing one or more buttons before or after the sample is added. If the patient forgets, or doesn't know how, to tell the meter that the sample is from a control solution and not blood then the result will be incorrectly stored as a patient's blood glucose reading and used for averaging.

This could have important implications for meeting DVLA requirements and patient care. Control solution readings, particularly from a control solution with normal levels of glucose, will distort the patient's averages to look better than they actually are. In a worst scenario, control solutions could be deliberately used to provide a false blood glucose profile in order to meet DVLA requirements.

The solution

VivaChek Ino from JRBiomedical, can automatically identify when a control solution is used by the patient due to an additional dedicated electrode on the test strip for that purpose. The reading is automatically flagged in the memory as being a control reading with date and time and more importantly, is excluded from patient averages. Medicine Management Teams and Diabetes Specialist Nurses should be aware that this is not a common feature of meters with test strips costing less than £10.

Selecting a meter with auto control recognition can help provide reassurance that your patient's averages are reliable to satisfy DVLA requirements and appropriate clinical management.

VivaChek™ blood glucose meters can automatically detect when a control solution has been used and excludes the reading from patient results and averages so that you and the DVLA can be confident of your patient's blood glucose readings and averages.

  • Auto detects control solution
  • Published independent evidence of ISO15197:2013 compliance**
  • Stores 900 readings - not deletable
  • Readings locked to mmol/L
  • Meter activated on strip insertion
  • No coding or calibration required
  • 0.5µL sample size
  • Diasend compatible

9 out of 10 VivaChek™ users rated the meter as easy to use. Drug tariff price is £8.99 for 50 (2 vials of 25 strips) and are stocked by major UK pharmaceutical wholesalers for distribution to pharmacies.

VivaChek™ blood glucose meter starter packs are available free of charge to most NHS clinics and GP surgeries, please call our nurse on Freephone 0800 612 7531 to place an order.