title: Effect of ambient temperature and humidity on performance of blood glucose meters.
abstract: The accuracy of four blood glucose meters (Accutrend, ExacTech Companion, Medisense Companion 2, and Glucometer III) was tested at temperatures ranging from 4 to 44 degrees C (control solutions) and 8 degrees C, 24 degrees C, and 36 degrees C (venous blood) and at humidities of 60% and 80%. Low and high temperatures resulted in a number of statistically significant changes in glucose readings with all meters. However, Accutrend, Medisense Companion 2, and Glucometer III were 100% clinically accurate at all temperatures. With the ExacTech Companion, only 70.8% of control solution and 55.6% of venous blood results were clinically accurate. The main errors were: (1) cold temperatures lowered the result so that euglycaemic levels erroneously read in the hypoglycaemic range and hyperglycaemic levels gave a better than actual result and (2) hot temperatures increased the result whereby hypoglycaemic levels falsely gave a euglycaemic result. Weather conditions at which blood glucose meters may be operated can affect results and potentially lead to errors in clinical decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Eigenmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colagiuri
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000592:standards*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood; D008834:Microclimate; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose