Hi @leann1 and welcome to Mayo Connect. We have several members who are curious about purchasing a hemoglobin testing kit to use at home. We know it doesn’t replace professional testing but it surely would be helpful to keep tabs on possible changes in blood numbers in between appointments.
Would you mind telling us which kit you bought? Do you know if it’s pretty accurate comparing it with labs from your doctor?
Have you also been diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera?
Hi Lori! I purchased the Bioaid Hemoglobin Testing System on Amazon. It was 82.00. It resembles a glucose testing kit. It also gives you your HCT. It seems to be pretty accurate, I just received it last week. I wanted to be able to check my levels myself. I’ve been doing a test, I take my count then drink a lot of water. I can get my counts a couple hours later. Counts go down a couple points. I have been diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera this month.
Hi Lori! I purchased the Bioaid Hemoglobin Testing System on Amazon. It was 82.00. It resembles a glucose testing kit. It also gives you your HCT. It seems to be pretty accurate, I just received it last week. I wanted to be able to check my levels myself. I’ve been doing a test, I take my count then drink a lot of water. I can get my counts a couple hours later. Counts go down a couple points. I have been diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera this month.
Hi @leanne1 Thank you so much for sharing your hemoglobin tester info with us! There are so many products on the market and trying to find one that’s accurate and reliable is always risky. You’ve done the legwork for us. ☺️
I’m going to tag fellow members, @wendy517@megg@jp85 and @jerrlin who have been wanting to find a good way to check their hemoglobin and hematocrit at home! @leanne1 comment regarding the tester is: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/878178/
Were you having symptoms prior to being diagnosed or was this found during a routine physical? Do you know if you have the JAK2 gene mutation?
Hi @leanne1 Thank you so much for sharing your hemoglobin tester info with us! There are so many products on the market and trying to find one that’s accurate and reliable is always risky. You’ve done the legwork for us. ☺️
I’m going to tag fellow members, @wendy517@megg@jp85 and @jerrlin who have been wanting to find a good way to check their hemoglobin and hematocrit at home! @leanne1 comment regarding the tester is: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/878178/
Were you having symptoms prior to being diagnosed or was this found during a routine physical? Do you know if you have the JAK2 gene mutation?
I used the meter today before my Dr. Apt. The meter was 2 pts higher than the Doctor’s number. The HCT was 3 pts higher than the Doctor’s number. Now I know for sure. I’ll just deduct the numbers when I check at home. Hope this helps.
Hi Lori! I purchased the Bioaid Hemoglobin Testing System on Amazon. It was 82.00. It resembles a glucose testing kit. It also gives you your HCT. It seems to be pretty accurate, I just received it last week. I wanted to be able to check my levels myself. I’ve been doing a test, I take my count then drink a lot of water. I can get my counts a couple hours later. Counts go down a couple points. I have been diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera this month.
Lots of water every day is key to good health all around, being dehydrated raises your hemoglobin levels as well. Something that us with PV absolutely don't want. I was just diagnosed in April, trying to go one month between phlebotomies 🤞
Fatigue still gets to me, I can work every other day and not full days yet, it's quite frustrating since I started my own business shortly before I was diagnosed. I may have to look into some type of short term disability. I'm typically a very active 60 year old, traveling, going out for fun & networking events etc. I don't do well resting so much 😞
Stay strong my warrior 💪 friends!
Hi @leanne1 Thank you so much for sharing your hemoglobin tester info with us! There are so many products on the market and trying to find one that’s accurate and reliable is always risky. You’ve done the legwork for us. ☺️
I’m going to tag fellow members, @wendy517@megg@jp85 and @jerrlin who have been wanting to find a good way to check their hemoglobin and hematocrit at home! @leanne1 comment regarding the tester is: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/878178/
Were you having symptoms prior to being diagnosed or was this found during a routine physical? Do you know if you have the JAK2 gene mutation?
Thank you!! Just ordered one, I was procrastinating because reviews for every one were all over the place from works great to not accurate at all.
I'll test the day of my next CBC in a couple weeks.
Thank you!! Just ordered one, I was procrastinating because reviews for every one were all over the place from works great to not accurate at all.
I'll test the day of my next CBC in a couple weeks.
I’ll just drop my numbers now that I know it runs high. I just turned 60 this month. I’m trying to drink three liters of water every day. I just had a phlebotomy yesterday and have to go again in two weeks. Then hopefully every month.
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I plan to read some reviews and pull the trigger to buy one today. I'll let you all know!
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4 ReactionsI just purchased one, glad I did.
Hi @leann1 and welcome to Mayo Connect. We have several members who are curious about purchasing a hemoglobin testing kit to use at home. We know it doesn’t replace professional testing but it surely would be helpful to keep tabs on possible changes in blood numbers in between appointments.
Would you mind telling us which kit you bought? Do you know if it’s pretty accurate comparing it with labs from your doctor?
Have you also been diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera?
Hi Lori! I purchased the Bioaid Hemoglobin Testing System on Amazon. It was 82.00. It resembles a glucose testing kit. It also gives you your HCT. It seems to be pretty accurate, I just received it last week. I wanted to be able to check my levels myself. I’ve been doing a test, I take my count then drink a lot of water. I can get my counts a couple hours later. Counts go down a couple points. I have been diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera this month.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsHi @leanne1 Thank you so much for sharing your hemoglobin tester info with us! There are so many products on the market and trying to find one that’s accurate and reliable is always risky. You’ve done the legwork for us. ☺️
I’m going to tag fellow members, @wendy517 @megg @jp85 and @jerrlin who have been wanting to find a good way to check their hemoglobin and hematocrit at home!
@leanne1 comment regarding the tester is: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/878178/
Were you having symptoms prior to being diagnosed or was this found during a routine physical? Do you know if you have the JAK2 gene mutation?
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Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsI do not have any symptoms, I have JAK2 and high platelets were found at my yearly physical.
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3 ReactionsI used the meter today before my Dr. Apt. The meter was 2 pts higher than the Doctor’s number. The HCT was 3 pts higher than the Doctor’s number. Now I know for sure. I’ll just deduct the numbers when I check at home. Hope this helps.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsLots of water every day is key to good health all around, being dehydrated raises your hemoglobin levels as well. Something that us with PV absolutely don't want. I was just diagnosed in April, trying to go one month between phlebotomies 🤞
Fatigue still gets to me, I can work every other day and not full days yet, it's quite frustrating since I started my own business shortly before I was diagnosed. I may have to look into some type of short term disability. I'm typically a very active 60 year old, traveling, going out for fun & networking events etc. I don't do well resting so much 😞
Stay strong my warrior 💪 friends!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsThank you!! Just ordered one, I was procrastinating because reviews for every one were all over the place from works great to not accurate at all.
I'll test the day of my next CBC in a couple weeks.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI’ll just drop my numbers now that I know it runs high. I just turned 60 this month. I’m trying to drink three liters of water every day. I just had a phlebotomy yesterday and have to go again in two weeks. Then hopefully every month.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction