title: An amperometric measurement--the ExacTech pen meter.
abstract: A new device based on amperometric measurement is currently available for diabetic patients to perform blood glucose tests for self-monitoring. The meter (Exac TechR) which comes configured as a pen, is extremely simple to use. It takes only 30 seconds for a blood glucose reading to be determined and virtually eliminates user errors commonly associated with colour reagent test-strips. An assessment of the technical aspects--precision and accuracy, was carried out in comparison with a reference analyser. Analysis of 174 venous blood samples (range 26-412mg/dl) indicated that ExacTechR gave acceptable accuracy for values greater than 151mg/dl but less accurate at less than 150mg/dl. Precision, assessed with seven glucose concentrations (52-300mg/dl), gave an average CV of 4.3% (2.6-5.2%). Data obtained from two other ExacTechR meters demonstrated similar precisions. Anticoagulants affected ExacTechR measurements. Compared to plain blood, blood glucose measurements with the ExacTechR using fluoride-oxalate, EDTA and heparinised blood, showed a mean deviation of +22%, -4% and -1.9% respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Thai
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001786:Blood Glucose