Consumer grade is perfectly acceptable and accurate if used correctly. They are medical devices that had to get cleared by the FDA to be accurate in order to be sold. Inside the directions for all the devices it will tell you how often you should do control checks to make sure it is still functioning properly. We do them at the first of each month and with each new bottle of test strips.
Maybe a little pelican case would help, if damage is a concern. I’d suggest having one in the ambulance and one in the first in bag, if possible. Nice to have a backup.
Why does your distance from a level 1 mean anything? are you saying they aren't accurate? are you checking BGL multiple times on a patient on a routine basis (outside of known diabetic, suffering from diabetic emergencies, of course)?
what's wrong with consumer grade? yes, it's cheaper, and it will probably die sooner, but that's when you replace them for a brand new one. they can (and should) be checked to ensure calibration is accurate (as @DesertMedic66 said), but if they do the job, what's the issue?
we (FD) stick ours in our bag, and it gets knocked around like everything else. unless you hit with a hammer, I don't forsee it breaking unexpectedly, especially if you check it during your daily truck checks.
So all those diabetics who live several hours from the trauma center and check their blood glucose every day with tsk tsk...consumer grade quality are actually in danger!!??
But if I buy those...it does not scream whacker...errr, I mean professional!!! I need to spend money and have a certain look to demonstrate professionalism and quality!!!
But if I buy those...it does not scream whacker...errr, I mean professional!!! I need to spend money and have a certain look to demonstrate professionalism and quality!!!
