Meters

New to diabetes, not new to HW.
I was given a FreeStyle Lite meter. I tested my blood 4times in a row. Readings were all over the place. Today, I replaced the battery. Then, I tested it 4 times in a row using the control solution that is fresh... and 2 different lots of strips. I got a 9 point difference between the lowest result and the highest result.


Bad meter? Bad Brand? Most importantly, what's the most accurate and reliable meter?

Thanks,
raggs

Blood sugar can and does vary quite a bit from one sample to the next. As far as the variance in the test/control solution all the solutions I have seen have a range and not a specific reading they are suppose to fall in. If outside that range then it indicates a possible problem with either the meter or the strips.

Also no 2 reading from the same sample but with different meters are likely to yield the same results.

Probably the most accurate meters are the ones that doctors and hospitals use but they are also very expensive as are the test strips. If you want an idea about how off your meter is compared to the ones used in an doctors office take yours in and have the office check your blood sugar with their machine and then from the same base sample test with yours or better yet when you go in for a blood draw to have your A1c checked take your meter and test from the sample being sent to the lab. The tech can get you enough to test from the sample. It will take a few days for you to know the results but this would be the most accurate way to know how your current meter stacks up. Just be sure your doctor and the lab knows you want the test results sent to you.

In all honesty home use meters are really only designed to give you an idea where you sugar is at in any given moment. Even the best of the home meters can still often have a variance of 10% or so from lab quality.

Anyway Freestyle, Accucheck, and Bayer/Accencia, typically rate high in market testings. Wal Mart Relion meters also rate well especially among low cost meters and strips though not as good as the 3 brands I mentioned.

Some pointers to get the most our of your meter and strips.

Ensure you strips are valid.
Store your meter and strips out of direct sunlight and within the specified temp range for storage and usage.
Keep your meter clean
Make sure to clean the testing sight before you test. You can use either a prep pad or soap and water and also make sure the test area is dry.
Waste the first drop of blood (wipe it off) and test from the 2nd sample from the sight.
Make sure your meter is ready to go before getting a sample.
Avoid pinching the test sight as much as possible as this can cause false readings.
Rotate testing site. Dont test on the same finger everytime and especially in the same area, BTW the finger is considered the best area to test from even though many meters offer alternate site testing.

I can't access Consumer Reports, but on 3 sights I did check Bayer meters scored pretty well.

IMHO no matter the meter a person has they really should take it in with them to their doctor or better yet to the lab when they are to get an A1c blood draw and test it against with the office meter or the lab results and this should be done at least once a year. It is the only way we can have any clue as to how "off" our meters are.

Just from a sales standpoint the companies that make these meters are working on making them more reliable and accurate all the time, so any given meter sold today is likely to be more accurate than one of the same model sold even 3 years ago.