Gout Pal Interactive

I have been reading yourcomments on the uric acid test meters and was wondering if anybody has used the “kernel” test meter that is advertised on the goutcare website.

It looks good and is a very good price but can not find any recommendations.

What is the consensus of board users as to the meter most often purchased? (I don't have one nso I cannot begin the litany.)

I just started using the Kernel meter.  I have not had it checked against a lab test yet but will in about a months time, I am just getting over an attack.  It was simple to use and the readings are consistent when tests are taken back to back.  I have even had my wife and friends test and the meter does supply very different readings.  Once I use it for abit longer I wil post my findings and if it was accurate or how close to actual lab tests.  I hope it is accurate because I already see patterns that are fairly consistent and can see this being a big help in determining if what I am doing is actually helping the condition.  I do wonder why they are not sold in the US, still easy enough to get but it seems to me that if the meters are fairly accurate they would be a game changer for someone that is closely monitoring their condition. I am still trying to manage things without meds and when I am consistent with exercise and diet I never have flare ups but I do not know where my levels are at.  It is when I slack off like I did over the holidays that I get bit, being able to see where things are at on a consistent basis will be huge for me.  BTW most docs I have seen are almost useless to the management process, so getting lab work done on a regular basis is hard. 

rdavisiiiiii,

I check on that Kernel meter and it strikes me as quite a bit cheaper than it's competitors although additional strips seem pricey.

I found $80 + $8 shipping for the kit and $24/25 strips…so a buck a test.

Try this link outside the UK and EU:

http://www.uricacidmeter.com/#…..4535968510

For UK and EU, the page is a little more complex

http://www.goutcare.co.uk/#/or…..4536250106

Received UAsure monitor yesterday so not familiar with it as yet.  My hubby, the sufferer here, has a bout of gout in his knee & ankle same side at the moment.

His reading was 6.7 in evening.  A fasting one this morning was 5.9 & then later in afternoon today was 9.8!!  As this seemed a huge jump, he retested 5 minutes later and it read 8.5 (same finger)!   A bit disappointing. Can anyone shed any light on this?  He is not taking medication (yet!?).

I do not know how the SUA levels are maintained in the body and if the sample in itself has to do something with the results, in addition to the sample quantity. I tried it with lab with tests 15 minutes apart and got differential of 0.5 in the results.

In my case, I have not got any unexpected results from the SUA meter and I have compared the results with the lab at-least 5 times. All the times, the results were comparable with difference of less than 0.5. So, I guess, the meter numbers are reasonable.

For me, whatever numbers I get, if they are around 4, I am happy, Even if I add 15% differential, they are still around 4.5. At-least I know my numbers are not in the wrong range. A reading of 4 by SUA meter would not transform into 6 or 7 in labs.

Lab test costs around $20( when getting it outside doctors request), 5 test mean $100. In that much amount, I can do more than 50 tests with SUA meters without the hessels of going to lab and waiting for the results to be posted online next day.

trev,

My take is that these are 3 separate meters, uric acid, glucose, and cholesterol (Kewl!) rather than 3 in 1.  I hope you ordered some extra teststrips so you don't have to pay for shippping again later. But you cannot buy too many ahead because they have a short shelf life.

I know some people are happy with the cholesterol testers although they give only the gross measurement. Once you've had the lab test though you pretty much know where you stand with HDL so total cholesterol is a useful measure.

Glucose? Pretty much useless unless one is diabetic or pre-diabetic. Or if one KNOWS a diabetic…a nice gift?

Thanks zip2play – will try with a “COVERING”.  It does suck up the blood quickly & “beeps” almost instantly to indicate it is finished.  Hub has a blood test tomorrow so will be useful comparison – had to cancel last week- hopefully be able to get into car tomorrow!  Has rheumatology appt this week too (first time re gout).

Utubelite, do you mind me asking, is your monitor the same as ours, ie from Arctic Medical?  If so then perhaps we will get the hang of it eventually.

Juliana said:

Utubelite, do you mind me asking, is your monitor the same as ours, ie from Arctic Medical?  If so then perhaps we will get the hang of it eventually.

Yes, I have the same monitor from Arctic. I did not face any problems in getting the consistent results. I am easily able to see the difference between covering, COVERING and COVERING. As the meter beeps when enough blood sample has been delivered to test area, it reduces the chances of COVERING. I am almost able to gauge if I am going to get a wrong result based on the blood covering on the strip. But I have already used 3 boxes of strips now, that is almost 75…So, I guess it gives me more handle on the monitor.