The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a guidance recommending 2 technologies that enable patients on long-term anticoagulant therapy to self-monitor their clotting time.
The guidance supports use of the Coaguchek XS system (Roche Diagnostics) and the InRatio2 PT/INR Monitor (Alere) as options for some adults with atrial
fibrillation or heart valve disease who are on long-term anticoagulant therapy.
“The evidence shows that greater use of self-monitoring offers clinical and patient benefit and, over time, is likely to result in reductions in heart attacks and strokes caused by blood clots,” said Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director.
“Because self-monitoring provides almost instant results, self-monitoring can reduce anxiety, provide a sense of control for the patient, and remove the need to frequently attend clinics or hospitals.”
About the Coaguchek XS system
The Coaguchek XS system (Roche Diagnostics) consists of a meter and specifically designed test strips that can analyze a blood sample (fresh capillary blood or fresh untreated whole venous blood) and calculate the prothrombin time (PT) and the international normalized ratio (INR).
A code chip, which contains calibration data and the expiration date of the test strips, is inserted into the meter before it is switched on. Once the device is switched on, a test strip is inserted, and the blood sample is applied.
The test result is displayed approximately 1 minute after application of the sample, and the device automatically stores the result in its memory. The user is guided through the process by on-screen graphical instructions.
About the InRatio2 PT/INR Monitor
The INRatio2 PT/INR monitor (Alere) does a modified version of the 1-stage PT test using a recombinant human thromboplastin reagent. The clot formed in the reaction is detected by the change in the electrical impedance of the sample during the coagulation process.
The system consists of a monitor and disposable test strips. The monitor provides a user interface, heats the test strip to the appropriate reaction temperature, measures the impedance of blood samples, and calculates and reports PT and INR results.
Instructions and test results are displayed on an LCD. The monitor can store test results so that past results can be reviewed.
