Contour Next ONE vs Rite Aid True Metrix: Full Comparison

The Swiss Ascensia Contour Next ONE and US-made Rite Aid True Metrix blood glucose meters are easy to use and competitively priced. The only decision you need to make is which blood glucose monitoring system is the best of the two.

Sometimes, we prefer to stick with what we know. Or at least, we prefer to finger-stick with what we’re used to. Using blood glucose monitors instead of or in tandem with continuous glucose monitoring devices might be due to a tight budget or a need for an alternative but reliable backup system for a CGM. 

The Contour Next ONE and Rite Aid-exclusive version of the Trividia True Metrix fit the bill. Make sure you only use compatible blood glucose test strips and brand-specific calibrating liquids.

Who Are Blood Glucose Monitors For?

We all know that anyone with diabetes should test glucose levels multiple times a day. Whether we do that with CGMs or finger sticks is a simple matter of preference and budget.

Some older type one diabetics (or people with an older relative with T1D) might remember the torture of regular finger pricks using thick, painful lancets. Not to mention the act of squeezing huge, messy drops of blood on temperamental test strips. Luckily, those days are long gone.

Today, not only are finger stick lancets incredibly fine and practically painless, the amount of blood you need for a reliable result is minuscule. Even young children with T1D are unlikely to complain about using modern blood glucose monitoring systems.

Still, most people prefer continuous glucose monitoring sensors. So why buy a blood glucose monitor?

There could be many reasons for it. It could be due to the higher cost of CGMs, the need to test during a CGM warm-up, or perhaps to save on CGM sensor costs until your health insurer comes to a decision. It’s also generally a good idea to have a blood glucose monitor on hand, even if you have a CGM, as a backup in the event that the CGM fails. In all of these cases, a cheap blood glucose meter is a great temporary or permanent solution.

Contour Next ONE vs Rite Aid True Metrix

It’s important to look at these top-rated blood glucose monitoring systems in plenty of detail because although the Contour Next ONE and Trividia True Metrix do the same job, they produce and present results quite differently.

One thing both score high on is value for money. You can pick one up from your local drugstore for about $20. Of course, you also have to buy test strips and calibrating fluid. We’ll look at those additional costs a little later on.

If your health plan isn’t fully comprehensive, it’s time to read the small print of your policy or get in touch with your insurer. Of the two devices in our blood glucose monitoring system (BGMS) comparison, the Contour is more likely to be covered in the US.

Features

Contour Next One

The Ascensia Contour Next ONE is a combination of a smart meter and an app for adults and (young) children. Your child may be too young to understand the app or use the device, but results are reliable from a very early age. As with any glucose monitoring device, PWD should ask their diabetes specialist about target-range settings before use.

This monitor is long, thin, and pretty small, measuring 3.8” x 1.1” x 0.6“ (97 x 28 x 14.9 mm) and weighing 1.27 ounces (36 g). The 2 coin-cell batteries should keep your Contour Next ONE charged for 1,000 tests. If you test 3 times a day, that’s about a year of use. 

The most noticeable feature of the Contour Next ONE is smartLIGHT (make sure you turn this option ON in the settings menu). The smartLIGHT feature makes the port glow green when your result is within the target range, red (below the target range), or orange (above the target range). You can set different target ranges according to meal markers, or simply stick to your doctor’s general recommendations. 

The second and, in my opinion, best blood glucose monitoring feature, is Second-Chance sampling.

If you fail to squeeze out a tiny 0.6 microliter droplet of blood onto your Contour Next test strip, you don’t have to throw that strip away. You get a second chance. Simply re-apply another blood sample to the same test strip. As a common occurrence on any blood glucose testing device is the ‘too little blood’ error, this clever feature goes a long way. 

Rite Aid True Metrix

This True Metrix self-monitoring blood glucose system from Trividia Health, Inc. is manufactured exclusively for the Rite Aid drugstore chain. You can buy regular True Metrix devices from other physical and web stores, but this exclusivity deal has its uses. Rite Aid charges a fair price and offers its customers regular promotions. Even so, I’m sure you’ll be surprised at what we uncover later on.

True Metrix design is more in keeping with the traditional shape of blood glucose monitors. It weighs 1.66 ounces (47 g) and measures 3.44” x 2.16” x 0.69” (87 x 55 x 17.5 mm). Don’t be tempted to use a rechargeable coin-cell battery, as you’ll immediately lose your warranty rights.

Trividia’s special feature is Triple Sense Technology. This scientific algorithm doesn’t just detect and analyze glucose in each tiny 0.5 microliter blood sample, it also corrects certain variables that might affect result accuracy. Designed in partnership with Nipro Diagnostics, the Triple Sense algorithm makes internal corrections according to temperature and hematocrit values and enables another True Metrix feature – Event Tags.

Event Tags let you link blood glucose results to events that include ‘before meal’, ‘after meal’, ‘exercise’, ‘medications’, and ‘sick’. Triple Sense Technology corrects many of the potential effects these events might have on the accuracy of your blood glucose results. 

Another advertised feature is the Ketone Test Alert, but this isn’t quite what it seems. The wording might make you think the True Metrix can somehow detect ketones in the blood. It can’t. The Ketone Test Alert simply reminds you to test for ketones (in the urine) when your blood sugar has been high for some time.

Performance

When we talk about the performance of a blood glucose monitoring system (BGMS), we’re mainly talking about accuracy. Studies in recent years have shown that about 20% of CE-labeled BGMS don’t fulfill the most recent ISO standard.

This is the ISO 15197:2015 standard that expects blood glucose meters to provide results that, in at least 95% of cases, produce results comparable to laboratory blood testing within a narrow margin of error.

Contour Next ONE

In a comparison study carried out by the Institute for Diabetes Study in Germany, the Contour Next ONE achieved the 2nd highest score within the narrowest margin of laboratory test results. It scored 100% accuracy within a 15 mg/dl range, 97.5% within a 10 mg/dl range, and 77% within a 5 mg/dl range. The Next ONE website publishes slightly more modest results.

ISO 15197:2015 standards are also exceeded with the Second-Chance feature.

Rite Aid True Metrix

Unfortunately, the True Metrix BGM described in this post wasn’t included in the German study. But laboratory testing shows 99.3%, 82%, and 46.6% in the 15, 10, and 5 mg/dl range respectively for results equal to or over 5.55 mg/dl. 

To tell the truth, there’s not much in it unless you experience the symptoms of hypo- or hyperglycemia within a narrow blood glucose range. Another reason you might think you need the most accurate machine is if you want to check CGM results or calibrate older CGM devices. 

Price & Monthly Cost

There’s no doubt that blood glucose monitoring costs less than continuous glucose monitoring. But how much less?

We’ve done the math to give you an accurate overview of monthly blood glucose monitoring costs. These costs are based on 5 daily capillary blood tests, single-use lancets, and United States prices.

Five finger-pricks a day is a lot; if you’re using a BGMS as a backup, costs will naturally be much lower.

Contour Next One

Buy a Contour Next ONE value pack from Walmart, and you’ll receive a meter (batteries included) with 20 test strips for $19.97. 

(If you’re a private or commercially (NOT federally) insured PWD in the States, you can fill in this form to request a coupon. Print the emailed coupon out and bring it to your pharmacy along with your doctor’s prescription to get a free Contour Next ONE meter. You will have to buy at least 50 test strips at the same time.)

You need 2 separate control solution bottles (levels 1 and 2) to calibrate the device. Each 2.5 ml bottle costs $10 and can be used for up to 90 days. 

While any finger lancet will do, we’ve calculated generic safety lances at $10 per 100.

Finally, it’s time to order your test strips. The more you buy, the better the deal. Contour Next strips will set you back approximately $22 for 35 strips or $35 for 70. Boxes of 50 and 100 are available in the EU with comparable pricing. You’ll often find deals if you shop around.

To buy all the above without medical insurance to cover an entire year, you need:

• 1 Contour Next ONE meter $20
• 4 bottles level 1 control solution $40
• 4 bottles level 2 control solution $40
• 18 boxes of safety lancets for $180
• 26 x 70 test strips $910

That’s a total yearly cost of $1190, or $99 a month.

Rite Aid True Metrix

So, let’s see if that exclusivity deal really makes a difference.

The Rite Aid version of the Trividia True Metrix is only available via Rite Aid pharmacies.

For this device, you need 3 testing solutions (low, medium, and high). These have a lifespan of 90 days after opening and cost $6 per bottle.

We’ll stick to the same generic safety lancets.

Test strips are (currently) available on the Rite Aid website in packs of 30 ($9.99). But you don’t need to purchase them from Rite Aid. For this comparison, we’ll go with Rite.

To buy the above without medical insurance to cover an entire year, you need:

• 1 Rite Aid True Metrix meter $19
• 4 x level 1 testing solution $24
• 4 x level 2 testing solution $24
• 4 x level 3 testing solution $24
• 18 boxes of safety lancets for $180
• 61 x 30 test strips $610

That’s a total yearly cost of $881, or $73.50 a month.

(If you buy via a Trividia-approved online supplier like ADW Diabetes, the non-exclusive version costs are:

• 1 Trividia True Metrix meter (with 50 free test strips) $32
• 4 x level 1 testing solution $15
• 4 x level 2 testing solution $15
• 4 x level 3 testing solution $15
• 18 boxes of safety lancets for $180
• 36 x 50 test strips (minus 50 free strips) $360

That’s a total yearly cost of $617, or $51.50 per month.

Even cheaper!

But Rite Aid offers regular promotions which we haven’t considered in our calculations. So, it’s still worth checking out the website.

Usability, Comfort, Popularity, and User Experience

Contour Next One

Test, track, and share blood glucose results on the Contour diabetes app. It’s not the flashiest of apps but it’s easy to use. 

As far as comfort is concerned, that depends on your choice of lancet. The smartLIGHT feature means you still get an idea of your glucose levels when you don’t have your glasses on.

The meter is pre-set for time and date, but Event Tag, Ketone Test Alert, and Test Reminders are off. You can set up to four Test Reminders a day. The meter is also simple to use with just up and down scroll buttons and an OK button.

The small screen uses icons to save space. You’ll be able to see the result, time, and date, in the target indicator, meal marker (fasting, before and after meal markers), and Bluetooth connection at a glance. Some icons will need learning – the “add more blood” icon, for example.

Add written or voice notes via your paired iOS or Android device where you can map and track things like activity levels, carb-containing meals, medication changes, daily graph view, and trends.

Contour Next ONE reviews are very positive and praise its simplicity and accuracy. The Contour Next ONE can also write into Apple Health, which can then be read directly into Gluroo. Gluroo is the top comprehensive, collaborative diabetes management app. With Gluroo you can log blood glucose readings, meal carbohydrates, CGM sensors, insulin pen expiration dates, and so much more. And since Gluroo can read BGM readings from Apple Health, you don’t need to worry about double-logging. Try Gluroo for free today on both iOS and Android.

Rite Aid True Metrix

This is where we find out why the True Metrix is cheaper than the Next ONE and only uses one battery – no app and no Bluetooth.

You can download TRUEmanager software to your (Windows) computer for tracking and trends purposes, but you’ll need a USB connection to transfer that data.

With this disappointment out of the way, the rest is good news. The manual is easy to follow, there’s an automatic shut off after 2 minutes of use (you must turn the machine off manually with the Next ONE), a Limited Lifetime Warranty (only 1 year with Contour), and a simple interface (left and right scroll buttons and OK button). I like the strip release button, as the strip is less likely to dislodge if you’re measuring on the go. 

Reviews give kudos for convenience, low price, accuracy, and reliability. But as you might expect, the lack of an app is often mentioned as a negative. For this reason, I think the Contour is better for younger children learning about diabetes control.

Final Comparison

Here’s the Contour Next ONE and Rite Aid True Metrix comparison in a nutshell:

Which Bloog Glucose Meter is the One for You?

Two reliable blood glucose monitoring systems with different ways of working. Have we helped you to decide which one to try?

If you rely on your smartphone, the decision is a no-brainer – the Next ONE is the only option here with an integrated app. I’d also say it’s the better choice for younger children (as they’ll respond to the smartLIGHT feature) and anyone suffering from tremors (that Second Chance technology could make the Next ONE a cheaper choice in the long run).

The True Metrix (either the Rite Aid or regular version), on the other hand, may not have all the extra bells and whistles, but it needs less power and is a great choice if you spend a lot of time off the grid or don’t have (or don’t like to overuse) a smartphone. It’s also the clear winner in terms of blood glucose monitoring costs and that little but important addition of an automatic shutoff (very useful if you’re forgetful or engrossed in another task).

Both are very accurate, easy to use, small and reliable choices. And you’re extremely unlikely to make the wrong choice with either model.