title: Evaluation of home glucose measuring devices.
abstract: A large number of glucose-monitoring systems suitable for home use are now available. The Glucochek, an early model (Mk I) and a later (Mk II), the Stan Clark RAHC, the Glucometer, and 20-800 BM glycemie strips were evaluated with regard to accuracy, precision, model variability and operator variability before a particular system was recommended for patient use. Whole blood glucose, on samples samples taken in the Diabetic Clinic of The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, was measured with the system under test and in the Biochemistry Department. Accuracy was indicated by the mean of the differences between the two results, and precision by the standard deviation of these differences-the closer these results to zero, the better the system. The 20-800 BM Glycemia strips gave the best results in the hands of an experienced operator, but showed the greatest interoperator differences. These differences decreased when a machine-based system was employed. The Glucochek Mk I did not perform satisfactorily. All the systems tested showed a marked decrease in accuracy and precision when blood glucose levels were greater than 15.0 mmol/L. These results show that a machine is not a necessary part of a home glucose-monitoring system; that patients on home glucose-monitoring must be trained and their results checked against a reference method initially and, ideally, at regular intervals; that home glucose-monitoring in patients with marked hyperglycaemia unreliable.
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000592:standards*; D011934:Reagent Strips / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011934:Reagent Strips