With the near release of the Accu-chek nano here In Australia, I thought I would publish here a review of the Accu-chek performat I conducted for Reality Check a few months ago.
The performa is the international version very similar to the Aviva sold in the US. It boasts 5 second result and one of the best lancet devices on the market
Advantages:
This meter is meant to give results in 5 seconds and use 0.6microliters of blood, but these numbers don’t show the real picture. For some reason, it requires a lot less blood than my Optium Xceed which on paper requires the same amount of blood. It also uses better suction technology in the strip so the filling is super fast, much faster than any other meter I’ve tried.
The strips come in a canister with a hinge which make it very convenient as there is no need to fiddle with foils or lids. The meter also comes with the highly regarded Softclix, by far the best lancet device around these days.
Disadvantages:
No backlight, not that I really use it that much, but is the only thing I could really miss. The meter and case are also a little big bigger than the Xceed, but still very manageable.
Verdict:
I was very happy with my Optium Xceed before getting this one, but now that I have used the Performa, I’m completely hooked to it.
I’ve tried so many meters and keep coming back to the Accu-Chek prforma. Despite other, smaller meters (perhaps more convenient for lugging around), the super-fast uptake of blood from the strip keeps me coming back.
Some of the strips with other meters are not only painfully slow, you also can’t see what the strip is doing, or if you have it placed correctly. Do I have it the right spot? Is the blood filling the strip? I think it’s a huge advantage to be able to see what’s happening.
When you’re hypo and got the shakes, getting that strip on the right spot and keeping it there, can be a challenge. The fast strip-filling has an even bigger advantage at hypo time.
While I have a problem in general about the margin of error for all current meters, I was surprised that my last blood test matched exactly to the meter test at the time.
I would highly recommend this meter over any others I’ve tried.
WE USE ACCUCHEK ADVANTAGE AND THE ACCUCHEK AVIVA AND
WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THEM. WE HAVE BEEN DIABETICS
FOR OVER 12 YEARS AND ARE BOTH INSULIN DEPENDENT AND
ALSO ORAL MEDICATIONS. WE ARE BOTH VERY INTERESTED
IN THE PUMPS OR THE I-PATCH. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
ANY AND ALL INPUT ON THIS.
WE USE ACCUCHEK ADVANTAGE AND THE ACCUCHEK AVIVA AND
WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THEM. WE HAVE BEEN DIABETICS
FOR OVER 12 YEARS AND ARE BOTH INSULIN DEPENDENT AND
ALSO ORAL MEDICATIONS. WE ARE BOTH VERY INTERESTED
IN THE PUMPS OR THE I-PATCH. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
ANY AND ALL INPUT ON THIS.;…
Hi, I’ve just read your blog written a year ago.. I’m planning to get a glucometer and seriously considering getting the Performa for my Mom who has Type 2 diabetes. A year on from your last blog – are you still using the Performa? What is the performance like? Would you still recommend it? Thanks, Michelle
I just bought the Performa while on holiday in a shopping
mall in Thailand in Dec 2010. It’s fast, quick and painless. It’s
the first time I ever use such a device since finding out my blood
sugar is high. I highly recommend it. I’m glad you explain the
differents between Aviva and Performa. I wanted to buy more test
strips on US Amazon but kept getting Aviva products. Now, I know
Performa is an international brand and will shop
elsewhere.
Not sure if anyone has noticed this, but quite often I angle my finger incorrectly and the blood mostly goes underneath the strip. The metre only gives you about one second before it errors. I have wasted a LOT of strips from this. I don’t think I would have bought this in retrospect.