Well I'm not doing home checking so what do I know, but the checker used at my former doc's office was always on the DI list for some funky readings. Here's what I'd do: I'd get my INR checked at a lab and do a home check that same day and if they're off between the two by more than what you're comfortable with, I'd say it could be the machine.

I've had times where my INRs has been steady freddy for several months (venous draws), but never during that time were they ever the same reading in a row. Ever. Of course, I generally test every 30 days (unless the numbers are too high or two low and then it's more frequently)

Do the home testers have a battery?

Do you have a friend you can "home test"?!? I would definately be sticking one of my family members to make sure it was "normal" for a normally coagulated person! :)

Well, just got off the phone with tech support and they were less than helpful. The machine self-calibrates and it sounds like I'm doing everything right.

Their only suggestion was to test against the lab or the machine my doc uses (or find a guinea pig!). I mentioned the 2.6 I got at my doctor's office a few weeks ago in the middle of all this and she said that they don't consider the difference between 2.3 and 2.6 to be significant, which I found weird, because it isn't like we have a huge "therapeutic" range.

I dunno, maybe I'll see if my (non-coagulated) husband would be up for a finger stick. Bwa - ha - ha!

Well, apparently the machine is OK, since my husband registered at a nice, normal 1.0. He chided me for worrying too much and reminded me that it is possible that I have just stabilized for a change since I haven't had any surgeries this year, taken any antibiotics recently, added any new meds, etc. I'm shocked that I've tested at the exact same number five tests in a row, but whatever.

Whoever thought I'd be stressing about my INR being TOO consistent?

Ha! No kidding. But I think it's good to pay attention to that because I can't help but think after a while, the machines do need to be serviced or dumped. My husband has the same issue with his glucose meter. Eventually, he gets weird readings and assumes it's a low battery, which sometimes it is, or the machine just wears out. I think this last one he's had for a few years though.

Look at you all stable INR and what not!

Now if I could just get the rest of my life to stabilize!

No machine for that, sister.

It seems that your machine has tested against a normal (non-anticoagulated) person so it would appear that it is working correctly. I am suprised that you found Roche Diagnostics "less than helpful" as I have always found them to be really nice, friendly and helpful. It concerns me that your INR is exactly 2.3 every time as there are so many other factors in our lives that can effect the INR that it is difficult to maintain it at a constant level.

I can only compare my INR to others but I do have a condition that causes the INR to fluctuate or even get false high readings from the CoaguChek, but my INR changes weekly so a constant 2.3 would get me thinking the machine needed to be checkedagainst a new batch of test strips.

Roche were correct that the machine self calibrates, but it is not impossible to think that a constant reading might be due to a mis-calibration to a batch of test strips. It does seem strange that they didnot offer any form of suggestions to help you feel confident, and therefore safer, with your machine.

I've had my INR tested at a lab every 2 weeks for the past 6 weeks, and I have stabilized at 2.3 on all three tests. I just went through quite a period from May to Mid July where my INR was all over the map. I'm hoping to stay stable for a while.