title: Experience of a quality assessment scheme for non-laboratory glucose meters.
abstract: In late 1989 a quality assessment scheme was introduced for glucose meters at 12 non-laboratory sites in a unit of management. The overall monthly imprecision of the meters varied from 3.4% to 17.1%, the highest coefficients of variation being recorded for glucose concentrations outside the range 3-20 mmol/l. In the same period 37% of results fell outside +/- 10% of laboratory set target limits; 13% fell outside +/- 20% of these limits. Participants have been advised of the unreliability of results outside the range 3-20 mmol/l. The main benefit of the scheme has been the improved confidence of users in the results obtained.
authors.affiliation: Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, Belfast.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Trinick
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duly
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009660:Northern Ireland; D011786:Quality Control
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose