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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 found the following review helpful:
 Simple and effective Feb 28, 2009
By Andrew
The kit is very easy to use and read the results. Just make sure you read the instructions closely and don't get ahead of yourself. For example, the lancet's spring is only good for one use. I was fooling around with mine and caused it to pop out, and then I had no choice but just to disassemble it and then manually shove the lancet into my finger.
16 of 16 found the following review helpful:
Very easy and simple to read - but you only get one shot. Sep 30, 2008
By George C. Targonski
I was wrong when I suspected the kit to be complicated and the results to be ambiguous - after all, drawing blood and playing CSI is for professionals, right? Nope - the kit is so easy a child could do it. And the results are easy to read - at least mine were - there wasn't much room for misinterpretation. The instructions seem a little complicated at first glance - but at the beginning they suggest you go to their website to watch a short but comprehensive video. The video shows how simple it is to use.
PROBLEM: For safety reasons, you only get one shot with the lancet used to puncture the skin. The spring mechanism retracts to prevent multiple uses. (You don't even feel the pinprick.) My finger tips must have thick skin, so after the first drop my finger seemed to start clotting and it was difficult to get three more drops to complete the test. I would have liked a second shot lower on my finger. Squeezing my finger didn't seem to force out more blood. I did followed the instructions which tell you to rub your hands for five minutes to warm them and so to prevent this problem. I finally got enough blood to complete the test, but four full drops of blood would make the results less prone to misinterpretation.
You can let the card dry and use the plastic seal to keep the card as a record or a treasured memento.
19 of 20 found the following review helpful:
Finally satisfied my curiosity! Sep 28, 2009
By Angie
The rest of my family members were able to find out their blood type when they first donated blood, but since I don't weigh enough to donate, I figured that I would only find out my own type if I ever needed a transfusion for some reason. Maybe it's because I'm a science nerd, but I really couldn't help wondering which antigens my red blood cells are carrying, so I was very excited to come across this inexpensive kit. Having read reviews that mentioned ambiguous results, I was extra meticulous in following the instructions and fortunately came out with a very clear result. It's not a difficult process, but it helps to pre-read the instructions and organize your materials before starting. The instructions also include an internet address were you can view a video demonstration of the procedure if it's unclear to you. Basically, you add a drop or two of blood to 4 different substances on the card and check to see if your blood reacts or not. In addition to improper technique, I'm guessing vague results could possibly indicate a rare blood type? Otherwise, your blood either reacts or it doesn't. A non-reaction just looks like smeared blood. However, if your blood does react, you will see it change from the smeared appearance to a speckled appearance as the blood cells clump together. You can have larger or smaller clumps depending on how strong the reaction is, but basically: No reaction = no distinct clumps or specks; Reaction = clumps/specks that have separated out. One of the substances on the card is a control and shouldn't cause any reaction unless there was a manufacturing defect, so as long as the blood just looks smeared around on that part of the card, you can use it to compare. You do have to realize that the results depicted in the instructions are just illustrations; they're not actual photographs so you can't expect your results to look exactly like them. Also, it might be easier to tell once the blood has dried. I've uploaded a picture of what my results look like (after drying) as an example.
In any case, the kit is not that expensive, so it's worth a try if you really want to know your blood type and have no cost-free alternative means of finding out (e.g. blood bank).
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 It would be a good idea to order two.. Mar 21, 2011
By avenues
I read reviews and watched videos before I ordered the eldon card because I wanted to make sure I knew it would work.
I thought those who were saying "make sure you do it right the first time" just didnt know what they were doing..
Well, I can stand by that and say MAKE SURE YOU DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME! If you are off by 1 second, mix wrong, not enough blood, etc., thats it! You only get one shot. I was nearly sure I did it right when my results were O- as that would make sense according to my family.
But I must have not read it right. I gave blood about a week after then later found out I am O+. I was close.. But O- and O+ are a big difference!
If you are thinking about getting the eldon card for the sole reason of knowing your blood type.. make sure you order 2 just to be sure. It works, but the pressure involved in doing it right exactly makes it a little difficult for the first time.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Decent Jul 06, 2010
By Scott Thomas
Prior to entering the police academy I needed to know my blood type. To expedite the results I ordered this kit. After using the automatic lancet, more than enough blood came pouring out of my finger. I was able to get the blood in the stir sticks by wedging them in my computer keyboard which gave me a free hand to squeeze a drop on each stick. Overall this is a decent product but I only rated 4 stars because the results were not as clear as I expected leaving me with some doubt. One more helpful tip, watch the eldoncard video on youtube, it does a walkthrough on the entire process making it a little easier to understand than the written directions.
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