title: An accurate and portable system for glycated haemoglobin measurement in the tropics.
abstract: Measurement of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is vital to provide meaningful diabetic care, but the assay is difficult and expensive, making its availability limited in resource-poor countries. We have field-tested a novel near-patient HbA1c meter (Glycosal; Provalis Diagnostics Ltd, UK) in northern Ethiopia. The machine was easy to use and gave results which correlated well (r = -0.96) with standard laboratory methods. The meter also performed well and retained accuracy at high ambient temperature (34.0 degrees C). Though still relatively expensive (pound 4 per test), this meter does give the opportunity for practical and appropriate HbA1c testing in tropical climes, and should be considered for at least intermittent use in diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
authors.forename: Atakilt
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gebrekidan
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wile
authors.forename: Solomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tesfaye
mesh_terms: D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005002:Ethiopia; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin