Nova MaxPlus Ketone Test Strips - Box of 10

I wanted the readings to monitor my Low Carb diet. There's only two devices that measure blood ketones at home. The other device's test strips are more than twice as expensive. Those do measure lower levels, whereas the Nova Sure Max doesn't give measurements below .5, instead it just reads lo.However, my goal is to stay between 1 and 4 on the readings and this device does a great job of that and costs less half as much to run the test, which at about $2.20 per test is plenty expensive enough.To avoid error messages you have to do things in the correct order. Take the strip out and put it in the device. Make sure the end with the 3 little black dots is NOT in the device, because that's the end that sucks up the blood. The three black dots should be facing up. The other end goes into the device. Now that the strip is properly inserted, push the button which turns on the device. Put it down and prick your finger with the lancet and squeeze out a 1/8 of an inch blood drop. Pick up the device which you've already turned on and have already inserted the strip. Now touch the end with the 3 black dots into the center of the blood drop. The blood will rush up 3 dots completely, then the device starts counting down from 10 to 1 at which time you'll get your reading (about 10 seconds). You'll get an error message if you gather the blood on the strip before inserting the strip, it must already be in the device with the device turned on before touching the strip to the blood. You also need a drop big enough to allow the blood to get to the top of the 3 black dots. If your drop was too small you get an error.Mine works so well, I think the complaints must be due to the users not following these steps. I hope this helps others.I was a bit reluctant to order because some of the reviews said there were many tests that failed or gave error codes. Out of my 12 tests so far, I only lost one reading and that was because I didn't make the blood drop quite big enough that I drew from.I've gotten very comfortable with the device now and am extremely pleased with it. One time I inserted a test strip and got an error message, I simply removed it and reinserted it and it worked fine. Get a decent blood drop, which is easy for me, about an 1/8 of inch or a little smaller, then touch the end of the test strip to the drop and it sucks the blood up like a vacuum and you can watch it travel over the 1/4 inch of the testing area in a flash. The meter then starts a 10 second countdown, after which you get the reading. I also monitor my blood glucose and just pull out the ketone strip and insert the glucose strip and use what's left of the blood drop to do that test too. The ketone test uses a little more blood than the glucose test and cost four times as much each, so do the ketone test first to insure there's enough blood, so you don't waste the strip.Don't push the strip on the skin up to the blood drop, just touch the drop with the strip about halfway up the drop and again, it sucks the blood up like a vacuum and in 10 seconds you have the reading. I don't understand the reviewers who say they are getting failed or lost tests. When inserting the strip into the meter hold it near where it enters the meter and you'll feel the bit of resistance as the strip enters the actual receiver that connects the gold plated metal on the test strip to the reader. What I'm saying is, when you put the strip into the meter, there's no resistance for a 1/4 inch or so, when the strip feels like it's bottomed out, then hold the strip close to the meter, so it doesn't bend, and give it a slight push and you'll feel it lock into the receiver. Then the meter shows a blood drop symbol and you know it's seated and ready for you to put the test strip into the blood drop.So long as you make sure the drop is large enough (not hard to do), this is very easy, fast, accurate and less than half the cost of the other system.Because my goal is to stay no less than 1, the fact this device doesn't measure below .5 is not an issue for me, because if it's that low, I have too many carbs in my diet and it's my job to fix that. I'm doing a good job on the diet and my readings are consistently between 1.9 and 3.6 depending on the last time I ate and how much exercise I'm getting.I also like it holds in memory the last 400 readings the device has taken, including the date, time and whether it was a glucose sample or a ketone sample. That way you can get the reading now so you'll know, then come back later and just hit the back button and go back as many as 400 readings if you wanted, then enter the data into a log or spreadsheet with the date and time later.For someone serious about monitoring a very low carb diet like I'm on, this device is the best and least expensive available. I having been fighting my weight all my life and low carb is the only way I'm able to maintain a healthy weight without being hungary, like I was on low calorie, low fat. My blood pressure has gone from 138/88, which is borderline medication level, down to 111/70, which is much better than even what doctors strive for (120/80). I also do an hour a day of pretty intense cardio, consisting of 20 minutes on a running type of machine, 20 minutes on a stationary bike and 20 minutes on a treadmill walking 10 minutes backwards up a 6 degree slope and 5 minutes in each direction lunging sideways to the forward motion of the treadmill. The treadmill exercises are working the opposite sides of the muscles in the other 40 minutes of the cardio. I like splitting up the routine into 20 minutes of different cardio, because a couple of years ago, I got a repetitive motion injury from doing one thing too long. Passing the exercise information along because exercise is huge in stabilizing your insulin and blood pressure, along with, for someone like me who can't tolerate carbs, getting all but non starchy vegetable carbs out of my diet. I've managed to lose 100 pounds and get all my blood chemistry in much better shape than any other time in my life at the ripe old age of 54.Update 2-19-2014I'm still using the device and have reordered strips several times. It still works great. Just make sure you follow the steps I wrote above.

I have used 3 boxes of these so far to measure nutritional ketones. My only error codes were my mistakes. It’s quick and accurate. To note: there were times my numbers read I wasnt in KetoDiet (less than .5). I had to come to terms and learn my body....and keep experimenting what works for me on Keto. Basically, just because I perceive I should be in Keto based upon what I’ve been eating, doesn’t mean I’m in keto! This tool gave me a knowledge base to work from so I actually stay in keto now.

But they work. I am doing keto while doing 75 hard and these test strips have really helped me to dial in my carbs for ketosis. Yeah, they're expensive but they work and are more accurate than the urine strips I also have.

Ketone strips are very expensive. I only check once a week because of the price. So far each strip I've used has worked. I don't have any other way to check accuracy. (Like another meter to check against.) I squeeze out a good size drop of blood, to make sure I have enough, and so far they read well. 10 sticks for this price is crazy expensive. But considering I can't get the doctor to cooperate with me on this issue. At least being able to check my own Ketone level gives me the information I need to manage this on my own.

There is a learning curve to using these strips. First, get the drop of blood ready. Then plug in the strip to the meter and immediately get the drop of blood on the strip. I've only had one false reading since I've been using these keto strips. To keep the cost down, I only use the test once a week. I also found that you get higher readings later in the day .. rather than early morning. No complaints and the cost is better than other products.

The strips do work, but there should be a less expensive alternative.

The most accurate test out there. Happy with the results. Thanks to the reviewer who offered tips for the novice. Though I read them AFTER I wasted 3....I have it down now. I only hate the price. MUCH cheaper today on storefront.novacares.com site. $19.99 for 10. Still pricey but worth it. Id much have it be $10 for 10. Other than that, no complaints and beat urine test strips by miles.

Very accurate