My mum is a nurse and purchased an INR machine for me (finger prick). Before she gave it to me she tested the difference between vein blood and finger prick blood, and came up with a .2 INR difference, which really isn't all that much. In my own personal opinion, the finger prick would be more reliable because the blood is being tested there and then, and not sitting in a vial to be tested at a later time.

As for insurance, you'd have to speak to your insurance company. You may also be able to claim some of the cost on tax, as a medical expense. My mum never claimed hers but I'm sure she could have if she'd tried.

If you have any questions about the INR machine feel free to ask, I'd be happy to help :)

The finger prick ANY DAY!!!
Specially when you get a tech that PUNCTURES you over and over again and keeps missing (yes I refuse to get abused by her when I see that she will deal with me, I just say "get me somebody else"...)
I keep hearing from most, "Wow you have gigantic veins!!!".

I DREAM of large veins! hahaha ... I did get started on some squeeze therapy but I'm afraid I inherited my grannies tiny ones.

YES, JennyMay I'd like to get some info on the INR machine and which one your mum recommends. I've switched insurance as of the 1/1 and have some more flexibility than I did with my old restrictive HMO. Thanks!

Well, since I'm in Australia and you're in the states, you may not be able to find the exact INR machine I'm using. It's called the CoaguChek XS. As for other brands you'd probably be best off speaking to your doctors surgery or nearest hospital, as they could very well order it for you (as well as the strips). Mum got my machine through her workplace, and I just went to my doctors surgery when I needed new strips and they were able to order them with their medical supplies. The machine is not cheap, at about $1500AU. And the test strips are about $170AU for a pack of 24. But they are well worth the cost if you will be on warfarin for life. In my case I live 110kms from my doctor and hospital so it was a security thing (I am since off the drugs).

http://www.towers.net.au/shop.asp?id=2775&action=viewproduct. OK so the machine itself isn't as expensive as I first thought. Maybe the cost I gave you was everything, incuding strips and blood pricker. Anyway this site says it's $770 online special. I've checked and you can have it mailed to the US.

http://www.coaguchek.com/landing/. Official website to the CoaguChek XP.

Good luck :)

Finger prick for me. I have a Coagucheck XS made by the company Roche, distributed by the company QAS. Insurance paid for it after some back and forth since I am a lifer on Coumadin. It was tested up against the lab draw for a couple of months -only ever off by0.1 at the most -so I would say pretty reliable. I am a vascular access nurse and I have got horible veins as well-now they y have been trashed over the last 16 months with endless blood draws. The nurse in me says why poke a vein if you an get the same thing with a finger stick. You might need that vein someday for something way more important than a blood draw. Teri

My veins much prefer the finger prick :)

Here is a patient newsletter on Home INR Testing that you may find worth reading:

http://stoptheclot.org/Newsletters/NATT_Winter_07_Newsletter_Final.pdf

Regards,
Tom in Connecticut

I have had both and the results were about.1 difference. I was using the blood draws but have switched to the home meter because as Teri says you may need those veins at a later date for something more than a blood draw. My machine is also the CoaguChek XS which seems to be about the best one out there for the money.

If I get tested at my doc's office, it's in the finger. If I get tested at the lab, it's in the vein. I don't really care either way.

I think I posted this before but I'm holding off on getting the home test machine, even though I'm a warfarim lifer. My INR is pretty stable finally and I've got such a reliable relationship with my doc's office and the lab and getting same day results that this seems to be working ok for me right now. Testing has just become part of my routine, like getting ready for work or going grocery shopping. By the way, I hate going grocery shopping. I'd rather get stuck with a needle a thousand times than shop.

OMG rmb, I hate grocery shopping too but wouldn't rather get stuck with a needle. Unfortunately I don't live close to town or my doctors office both are at least a good 1/2 hour down a windy grade and in winter it's scary as H**l. Plus like I stated earlier I want to be able to test my blood when I'm out in the woods doing things.