[The long-term stability of reactive strips for capillary blood glucose preserved at between 2 and 5 degrees C].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the stability of the reactive strips for capillary glycemia, preserved between 2 and 5 degrees C, and at ambient temperature, during 8 weeks.


METHODS
Transversal descriptive study.


METHODS
Health Center "V Centenario" of San Sebastián de los Reyes.


METHODS
322 strips were obtained, 31 were underrated because they could not read the orderly days, of the 291 remaining, 159 were kept in the refrigerator between 2 and 5 degrees C, and 132 were kept at ambient temperature, preserved to the light.


RESULTS
All the strips were type "BM-test-glycemia 24 hours, and the weeks 1 to 8. At ambient temperature the strips lose the 5% of their basal value, and the 23 and 32% in the first and second weeks respectively (p < 0.001). The strips kept in refrigerator have a rise at 24 hours, with regard to basal value of 7% (p < 0.001). Starting from this moment, a gradual fall of the mean value of the glycemia is produced, significant differences were not found in the second week. After 8 weeks, a mean loss of 10% of the strip value is noticed.


CONCLUSIONS
The fall of the strip value, preserved in refrigerator is not clinically very important, an acceptable control of the diabetic patient can be obtained by delayed reading, even 8 weeks, of reactive strips that patients can keep in their refrigerators.
Calderón Ubeda
J B
JB
Centro de Salud V Centenario, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid.
Blanco Ramos
T
T
Baltuille Fernández
R
R
de Hita Martínez
R
R
Marcos Sanz
M A
MA
de la Torre Sanz
M A
MA
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D002196:Capillaries; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012034:Refrigeration; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013030:Spain; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D011934:Reagent Strips