AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

[Ladybug]

Hi all,

For everyone out there using the AlphaTrak Meter, the Freestyle Lite test strips DO work with the AlphaTrak! I just tried them with the control solution and the reading was perfect at 159, the same as the AlphaTrak strip!

Ladybug's next reading isn't until around 2:00, but I assume if they work with the control solution, they'll work fine on actual blood. I do have another pack of the AlphaTrak strips, just in case.

I am so excited right now I could just scream! Now I only have to pay 60 cents per strip instead of $1.40! YAHOO!! And I also found a close supplier off Ebay just the next state over in Pennsylvania instead of the original person I found in Florida!

Doesn't take much to make me happy! I think I'll do the Irish Jig today instead of a "happy dance"!

Linda and Ladybug

[LilyBell]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

I'm so glad they are working for you. I remember feeling just as elated when I discovered I could use the less expensive Freestyle Lite strips too!

[2dogs2kids1cat]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

Good tip! Thanks!

[O'Riley]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

For those of you using FreeStyle test strips, when you enroll in Abbott's FreeStyle Promise Program, you get a free FreeStyle Lite meter, ten free test strips, control solution, free batteries for life, and free meter upgrades for life, plus a member card that allows you to get discounts on all future test strip purchases. You then present a test strip prescription obtained from your doctor to the pharmacy to receive up to $50 off a box of 100 ct. test strips OR up to $25 off a box of 50 ct. test strips.

I enrolled myself in the program because I do want to check my glucose since diabetes runs in my family. If I hadn't enrolled myself, I would have no qualms about enrolling my furry "child". In my opinion, Abbott and all the others should encourage pet owners to use their products since most of us here probably spend more on our pets than we do on ourselves.

I stopped by the window at the Walmart pharmacy today to see how much a 100 ct. container would cost me under the Promise Program, and the clerk said I would pay $15 since I don't have insurance. I don't have a prescription, so I can't positively say what the final price would have been, but I did buy a new box of test strips ($20) for my ReliOn Confirm, which so far, I have to say, I much prefer over the FreeStyle meter.

[eileen]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

Joined the Freestyle Promise Program today. A few months ago when I first attempted to join there appeared to be a glitch and the enrollment was never completed, at the time I just let it go.

I had talked to my vet yesterday about the fact that some of us are using the Freestyle Lite strips with our Alpha Trak meters and finding the results to be very acceptable.
He was very interested as he uses the Alpha Trak in office and also has clients who just can not afford the ongoing cost of the Alpha Trak test strips.
He said that he plans on running his own comparisons using the Freestyle strips along with his lab results.....this will be interesting if indeed he follows through.

Also said he has no problem in writing me the necessary scripts so to be able to take part in any savings.

Will update with any additional information.

Eileen/Mil

[Patty]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

That's great news Eileen!

[CarolW]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

I'm wondering what Abbot has to say about using Freestyle Lite Strips in an AlphaTrak. Or are they not aware?

Of - about what they say about using a Freestyle Lite METER on a dog. LifeScan is adamant about NOT using their meters (OneTouch) on dogs.

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 23:41:59 (PDT)

[Ladybug]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

Hi Carol,

If both the AlphaTrak and Freestyle Lite meters are made by Abbott, why shouldn't the strips be interchangeable?

Both meters look identical - I just think they coded the Freestyle meter at a high percentage for dogs, changed the name to AlphaTrak and marketed it as an "animal meter".

One thing that it interesting about the AlphaTrak...you have the option to set the coding to whatever number you want, just like a regular human meter.

They tell you code it to 7 for dogs or 10 for cats.

Linda and Ladybug

[Patty]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

This is an interesting link Kathy posted a while back:
http://k9diabetes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1732

[eileen]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

Carol,

The first words out of my vet's mouth when I told him of some using the Freestyle Lite strips with the Alpha Trak were," oh no...Abbott's not going to like this".

I don't know that Abbott is even aware, probably just a matter of time.

I stopped to pick up my script today from my vet for the strips. I'm awaiting my special membership code to the Freestyle Promise program...can't wait to see how this will play out at the pharmacy. In reading the fine print on the Freestyle website I see that it indicates the savings can also be used when purchased on line, just by sending back a rebate form.


Linda,

I don't think the 2 meters look the same but the outer shell is really not the important part...it is the calibrated parts inside.

The codes on the vials of Alpha Trak test strips have so far stayed consistent with the dog coding...a number 7, although I continually see the cat coding changes from vial to vial.

Eileen/Mildred

[Ladybug]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

Well, I may have opened a can of worms, but I sent an email to Abbott...

I currently use the AlphaTrak Glucose Meter for my diabetic dog. I have read on various canine diabetes forums that the Freestyle Lite Test Strips work with the AlphaTrak. I got a sample of the Freestyle Lite strips in the mail and they do work. What is the difference between the AlphaTrak strips and the Freestyle Lite strips? Thank you.

Here was the reply from Abbott...

Linda,
You may be able to get FreeStyle - and other meter strips - to give you readings but the AlphaTRAK is not calibrated for those strips so accuracy is in question. With every production run of strips, we run calibration evaluations to identify which code will provide the best results for that lot of strips. These codes are then noted on the strip vial. With human strips, there are no such trials or codes.

Dale R Evans, DVM
Manager Technical Support Services Abbott Animal Health
624 Clark Road
Bellingham, WA 98225 Office 360-715-0682
Cellular 360-280-2351
Voice mail 866-464-4249 X 555-9102
FAX 360-715-8694

I have done quite a few side-by-side tests and I do find that when using the Freestyle Lite test strips, the results are 30-40 points higher than when using the AlphaTrak test strips. But then, maybe the AlphaTrak reads low.

Linda

[Chloe's Mom]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

Hi All,

My Vet just called me and she wants to use the Freestyle Lite strips in her AlphaTrak too. I am giving her a few of my strips to test with so she can compare.

She was asking about the code for cats. I didn't know what to tell her. I have always kept my meter set on 7 for dogs, but she says that the code does change for cats. Does anybody know?

Hugs,
Heidi and Chloe

[k9diabetes]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

That's the ultimate problem with the substitution. This has worked essentially because they have not varied the canine code in a long time. I think it will be difficult to rely on for cats if the code is constantly changing.

I can say that I heard a lot of complaints at the feline diabetes forum when the AlphaTrak came out that it was reading their cat's blood sugar too low.

The other thing is that no meter is precisely accurate. There are tolerances built into the human meters that require them to read within something like 15% of the actual reading. The glucose level is determined by that computer algorithm so not truly a direct count of glucose molecules.

It might be necessary to periodically buy a bottle of AlphaTrak strips to see whether the code has changed on the most current lots and to do a side by side comparison of the Freestyle Lite strips and the AlphaTrak strips.

At which point it might be just as easy to just use a Freestyle Lite meter, make the comparisons between AlphaTrak with AlphaTrak strips and Freestyle Lite meter with Freestyle Lite strips and develop, essentially, your own algorithm, on which you can adjust the Freestyle Lite meter readings.

I compared our OneTouch Ultra and an AlphaTrak and found a very consistent 20-40 point variance through a wide range of blood sugars. So I just added 30 points to my OneTouch reading. Because whether the blood sugar is 220 or 240 is irrelevent. Especially when no meter can guarantee you that much accuracy in any reading.

(The Freestyle AV mentioned in this graph is an animal validated meter that is no longer available.)

[Ladybug]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

Hi Natalie,

It might be necessary to periodically buy a bottle of AlphaTrak strips to see whether the code has changed on the most current lots.....

That's what confused me about the email I got from Abbott about the strips, the codes never change - 7 for dogs and 10 for cats. I know I've been through at least 5 bottles of the AlphaTrak strips.

At which point it might be just as easy to just use a Freestyle Lite meter, make the comparisons between AlphaTrak with AlphaTrak strips and Freestyle Lite meter with Freestyle Lite strips and develop, essentially, your own algorithm, on which you can adjust the Freestyle Lite meter readings.

I registered with Abbott in their "Freestyle Promise" program. I will get a free Lite meter in a week or two and do the comparison between the FS Lite and AT.

I also have a OneTouch Ultra mini but I have to buy strips for that.

If little Ladybug is patient enough, maybe I can get readings on all three meters at the same time for comparison, but I doubt it! LOL!

Thanks for your help, Natalie!

Linda and Ladybug

[eileen]

Re: AlphaTrak Meter and Freestyle Lite Strips - THEY WORK!

For anyone who has recently signed up with the Freestyle Promise Program....

I called the customer service number today to find out when I can expect to receive the membership card with the needed information so to receive their discount on the Freestyle Lite test strips. Altho I signed up last Friday and received a confirmation email from them they had no record of me in their system.
The very sweet rep took my information over the phone, had a new card in front of her, read me the needed membership numbers and activated the card right then and there so I can begin to use it even without the card in hand. The rep was sending the physical card out to me tomorrow with the free meter to follow in several weeks.

The savings will be 25.00 off a vial of 50 strips and 50.00 on a vial of 100. Not quite sure if this savings will beat what I can order online from healthwarehouse as they are 33.00 for a vial of 50...we shall just have to check it out tomorrow to see.

Eileen/Mil