Discuss with your GP
Self-testing your INR can bring both practical and health benefits. The support of your healthcare professional is important
Self-testing makes it possible for you to keep a closer eye on your INR while taking up less of your time. This means that not only can it be better for your health, it can also be a big time saver for you and your healthcare team.
Discussing self-testing with your doctor
For self-testing to work, you need to have the support of your GP, Consultant, anticoagulation nurse, or other relevant healthcare professional, for continued advice on warfarin therapy. Not all healthcare professionals actively support self-testing, and not all health care providers make test strips available on prescription. An agreement should be in place between you and your healthcare team, on the method for feedback of your results. Many patients are now tested at their local pharmacy or have their details passed on to a clinic by phlebotomists or haematologists.
If you are interested in self-testing, you should start by making an appointment with your GP or anticoagulation clinic to discuss your options. You may find it useful to download the ACSMA discussion guide to take with you.
We have also included some information below that you can share with your healthcare team if they aren’t familiar with self-testing – or the difference between self-testing and self-managing.
If you have any questions about the CoaguChek meter, that you would like to have answered before you speak to your healthcare professional, please call the Care Line Team on freephone 0808 100 7666.
