Alphatrak.

Re: Alphatrak.

Katie Tallett RVN MBVNA — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:02:36 GMT

[quote user="Soo"]Shame, we had such a bruised kitty in last week for stabilisation- too many glucose curves!![/quote]

we use the jelco catheters and stents (animal care) for glucose curves, this can be placed first thing and stent removed for sample to be taken. because of how it is designed the catheter cannot block and therefore when the stent is removed you have a fresh sample. we have done many of these with good results and is soooo much less stress for the patient!

Re: Alphatrak.

Lisa Whitehouse — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:31:16 GMT

Yep we got this machine & have had a few issues namely lack of doing controls we can have numerous glucose curves in on one day so we have been advised to do a control when starting ona busy day & so far it seems to have sorted out the problems.

Re: Alphatrak.

Sue Cox — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:03:01 GMT

We recently got this monitor too and I was all excited at the prospect of just sticking the paw pad for a blood sample. But after a few goes of it reading a high glucose (even the boss tried it on himself) we tried taking a blood sample IV (not the boss this time!) and using the monitor and found it had a more realistic reading. We decided that holding the strips against the sample site for a drop of blood was the cause of the apparent hypers! So I cant use the little pin type thing for sampling They were great too, if you did it quick on a back paw pad the animal didnt seem to notice! Shame, we had such a bruised kitty in last week for stabilisation- too many glucose curves!!

Re: Alphatrak.

chanel clydesdale — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:53:11 GMT

Hi there we had a diabetic patient in a few weeks ago for a routine blood check and when we took a sample it read 1!! It had read low for a few patients so we have had to send it bck also to be checked. I agree the sucking of the blood is a massive pain in the butt x

Re: Alphatrak.

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:16:00 GMT

It is getting the machine to accept the blood that drives me nuts.

Re: Alphatrak.

bongo — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:24:30 GMT

do you have any of the control serum to calibrate it, if not try doing that and see what results you get, also make sure you change to code on the screen to correspond with whether it is a dog or a cat (you prob do this anyway but thought I would mention it!)

Re: Alphatrak.

Leanne Tyreman-Guest — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:18:13 GMT

Thanks guys, been doing all the things you have suggested, to the letter, its just nice to know if others are having the same trouble & if the rep is fobbing us off or not??!!!

Re: Alphatrak.

Vicky RVN — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:38:50 GMT

Not had any problems with readings as yet. Did take some getting used to to suck the blood up!

Re: Alphatrak.

Steph Worsley — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:40:00 GMT

hey

we have a few and not had probs (sold a few out to owners as well with no prob) you need to make sure the blood is in a droplet otherwise it cant draw it up properly, as has been said make sure strip is in the machine 1st before switching on (always double check the code corralates with the one on the tub) always calibrate it with each new pot of strips.

these are the only things i can think of atm,

Re: Alphatrak.

Maisy — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:41:33 GMT

Haven't found a problem with the readings, but agree drawing the blood up can be a bit of a pest.

Re: Alphatrak.

Heidi O'Toole — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:57:19 GMT

yeah we have a few. They seem ok.

I see what you mean about taking up the blood, if that happens we just get a new stick, then it works fine. Do you know youre meant to put the stick in first before you turn it on or it will read error...?

. I havnt seen any problems with the readings, they seem to be consistent, although i will keep an eye on it!