Uric Acid Test Kit by UASure - Home Gout Tester Meter Monitor - Complete Monitoring Device - Includes 30 Test Strips

Hi. This post is my personal experience in using the UA Sure device to get the correct and consistent UA test results. I would like to share it with you.Let me briefly explain what I have experienced on my Gout attack and how I use the UA-Sure to get the right test results.I had a Gout attack in February this year, hospitalized for 10 days. That was the worst pain in my knees I have ever experienced in my life. When I was discharged by the hospital, my Uric Acid number was 8.3 (mg/dl).I knew the doctors can only do so much on the treatment of my Gout problem. I have to take some actions to manage my own gout problem. I have read many gout forum posts and searched many articles on cause of the gout, the treatment, and food to eat to help reduce the next gout attack.After the research, I decided to buy a UA Sure uric acid test device and test kits. When I started to use it to do the tests, I experienced the large variations of the results. I was frustrated and almost gave up. However, after closely checked the test procedures I had done, I finally figured out how to do the UA test correctly and get the consistent test results.Below is the graph showing the progress from bad test results to good consistent, test results. (See Graph1)You can see all the 35 tests, first 17 are the results did not follow the good test process, because I made some mistakes:1. Applied the sample on top of the test strips, not on the left side of the small tab of the test strip. In this case, only after the sample touched the side can it be sucked into the strip.2. Not enough sample blood to test. That may be the main reason that one cannot get the consistent test results. Squeezed my finger hard to get enough sample for the test. I am guessing that that may cause the blood sample to be mixed with body fluid. Again, I don’t have data to support.3. After each test I took the green code chip off the device. However, I had one or two tests that I forgot to insert the code chip back in.After I realized the mistakes I made in the test, I changed my test procedures. And my test results are consistent since the number 18 test.Here is what I did:1. Test time: I have kept the time to do the Uric Acid test in the morning after I got up in the morning. After a night sleep, the Uric Acid should be stable. I also log the food I ate in previous day and the exercise I did.2. Make your sample finger clean. I use the no-scent hand-wash to wash my hands and the sample taken ring finger. Then use the alcohol to clean the finger and the lance device’s end surface that touches the finger.3. Collect sufficient sample for the test. It is critical to make sure there is sufficient sample for the test. Sometimes, there is not enough sample, the test results showed much higher numbers. I then immediately did another one with enough sample, the results showed in normal range.4. The last also very important thing is that when applying the test sample to the test strip edge, I have to be quick and accurate. Because the test strip sucks the sample in a blink of a second, you have to make sure all the sample can be sucked in the test strip without the air. Or when you did not collect enough blood in your first try, then try to add more. That may cause the air to be mixed with the sample.Below are the analysis I performed the data analysis. (See Graph2)From the above graph of the comparison of the good test results vs the bad ones.Above chart (Graph3) is the one after I corrected my test process with the stable process. In May I also did a comparison on the Uric Test I did in a test lab with the test I did using UA-Sure myself. I used the UA Sure test when I parked the car in the parking lot of the clinic. Then I went to lab and had the sample drawn by a nurse. My own UA Sure test result was 5.7 and the clinic result was 5.3. Both results are very close.As for how I maintain my Uric Acid in a reasonable range. I did the following things.1. Eat food with plentiful nutrients but not high in purine – chicken, eggs, salmon, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, garlic, some spaghetti, rice, and corn meal. I avoid bread because it has yeast.2. Exercise. One hour gym – elliptical machine, and resistance exercise equipment, one hour every day. I have found that if I exercise too much, my uric acid will be elevated a little bit higher but not strongly correlated.3. Sufficient rest and sleep.4. Lastly. I have a very good Rheumatologist. I had a second Gout attack in April just several days after I started to use UA Sure to do my own tests. I was luck that I found that doctor and he immediately prescribed the medication for me and stopped the worsen of the symptom.I am going to continue to monitor my uric acid level and will try different food to see how it affect my uric acid level.Hope my post help some of you to manage your Uric Acid level. Good luck for those of you who have been using the UA Sure device.================P.S. Before I uploaded this post I tried one week of pork in my diet. I did three tests of the UA. The results were 6.0, 5.8, and 6.7. It seemed that diet in pork caused the elevated UA level. I will try several more days.

I've had a few flare ups of Gout over the last 6-7 years but once resolved it would be a year or more before the next but as they say those flare ups are a portent of things to come as what was a rare acute situation usually will become chronic in nature.During the early summer, I developed flare up after flare up after flare up and there seemed to be no resolution. One day it would be almost gone then the next back with a vengeance so I started doing my due diligence and researching heavily to figure out what to eat, what not to eat and to monitor my UA levels while correlating it to what I was consuming along with trying various remedies.This meter was the center piece of that process as it provided me with the means to quickly correlate my gout symptoms with my UA levels and even associate early warning signs (Tightness in a few fingers I discovered was an early warning sign)First thing I did was take it with me when I went to get blood work done so I could get an idea of how much it deviated from lab level blood work. I informed the phlebotomist what I wanted to do so please hold off on applying the cotton ball and band aid while I took a quick sample. As soon as they finished drawing blood I tested the meter from the same draw spot before they slapped on a snoopy band aid. The deviation was literally less than a point. It was ~.2 (Blood work was 9.2, meter was 9.4) which was more than acceptable and meant I didn't need to worry about its overall accuracy.So next up was an elimination diet to figure out what was raising my levels. This meter isn't as useful if not used with the means to collect proper data and align with your eating habits.I just used standard sterile wipes for the site and made sure to keep my hands clean at all times and not contaminate the strips or meter and had no odd readings or problems. Approach its use like you would a blood glucose meter.Over the course of a month I quickly found out RAW tomatoes and green peppers were a major no no. Cooked had a much lower effect. Eggplant was a major no no. High levels of asorbic acid (vitamin C), niacin and even too much citric acid also elevated my levels quickly. Fish was ok, crab was not. Chicken was ok. Beef is ok in moderation but only once a week. Red wine was ok. Beer is an absolute no no as is too much uncooked soy sauce used for marinades and dipping sauces. Not consuming enough water just exacerbated everything. Taking ~500mg of sodium bicarbonate 2x a day would drop my levels by a point or two consistently and keep everything from going critical.I found this meter was a fascinating device to correlate my levels to how my toe and knee were feeling. Slowly, over the course of a month I whittled away at all the triggers basing what I ate compared to their results with this meter till I eliminated my chronic flare ups completely based on hard data and tracked results in a monster sized spreadsheet. Bonus was my kidneys stopped getting those aches too even with my blood work showing good kidney function.If you suffer from gout or elevated uric acid levels I would implore you to get a meter like this and keep a detailed food journal and start to take back control of your gout. A meter like this used properly and with discipline is a major game changer as just like a glucose meter you will get immediate feedback from the food items you ingest along with supplements to combat those levels and gout.5/5

I found this uric acid meter to be helpful and simple to use. The first time setting it up requires some reading of the instruction manual, but after that it's a no brainer. You simply insert the test strip, which turns the meter on and then prick your finger with the included device, put a drop of blood on the test strip, wait for about 15 seconds and you have a result. There is an included booklet to track your daily numbers and that allows you to see what you're eating that making the numbers go up and down.

I’ve had trouble with my uric acid for over twenty years. To better help me avoid gout attacks, I purchased this meter, so I can monitor my levels. When done right, this meter is very accurate. The steps I use to have great accuracy is to wash my hands very well and dry with clean paper towels. I only use alcohol after I’ve completed the test. I’ve tested my numbers with all of my blood work done by my doctor every six months. It is accurate every time. The key again is to have clean hands. Wash twice if you have to.

I've been using this device for almost two weeks, testing myself twice a day, and have had a range of results which is understandable; however, I have taken back to back tests on several occasions with the results ranging from "Hi" to "Lo" or by over 6mg. Needless to say, this is absurd and makes this device a complete waste of money - and finger pricks.To be clear I've followed the guidelines from the manual precisely.Wish I could return it but I've already tossed the box. Going to see if I can at least return the extra testing strips and lancets I ordered.I don't really care about the money - I'm far more disappointed about not being able to keep accurate track of my Uric Acid levels. Was really excited at the prospect of being able to do so but I guess we're simply not there yet.