title: Implementation of POCT in the diabetic clinic in a large hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Point-of-care testing (POCT) is gaining renewed interest, especially in resource-limiting primary health care, due to rise in prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases hence POCT needscontinuous appraisal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Random glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured in 104 diabetic patients using standard laboratory multichannel analyzer 917. The utility of venous blood compared to capillary blood in measuring HbA1c was evaluated in a subset of 20 patients using a POCT device, DCA Vantage. Lastly, the POCT was validated against the laboratory multichannel analyser 917, in measurement of HbA1c in a second subset of 46 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Random blood glucose levels and HbA1c levels moderately correlated (r2 = 0.56; p < 0.0001). Random glucose tests showed that 41% of the patients had poor glycaemic control while HbA1c showed 74%. Venous and capillary blood in HbA1c showed strong correlation (r2 = 0.89440; p < 0.001. There was also strong correlation (r = 0.9802; p < 0.0001) in HbA1c measured using the DCA Vantage and the standard laboratory analyser, Multichannel Analyser 917.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Venous or capillary blood can be used in POCT for HbA1c. POCT is ideal for monitoring glucose control and management of diabetes in resource-limited countries such as South Africa.
authors.affiliation: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), Chemical Pathology Department, Chris Hani Road, Bertham, 2000 Johannesburg. South Africa.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tanyanyiwa
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Genetics, Department of Clinical and laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Collet
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dandara
authors.affiliation: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Internal Medicine, Diabetic Clinic, Chris Hani Road, Bertham, 2000 Johannesburg. South Africa.
authors.forename: Sindeep Amrat
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bhana
authors.affiliation: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Internal Medicine, Diabetic Clinic, Chris Hani Road, Bertham, 2000 Johannesburg. South Africa.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pauly
authors.affiliation: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), Chemical Pathology Department, Chris Hani Road, Bertham, 2000 Johannesburg. South Africa.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marule
authors.affiliation: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), Chemical Pathology Department, Chris Hani Road, Bertham, 2000 Johannesburg. South Africa.
authors.forename: Makhosi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramokoka
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga 2678, Australia.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bwititi
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory Science Program, Faculty of Engineering, Health, Science and the Environment, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory 0909 Australia.
authors.forename: Uba
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nwose
authors.affiliation: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), Chemical Pathology Department, Chris Hani Road, Bertham, 2000 Johannesburg. South Africa.
authors.forename: Buyisiwe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nkosi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; POCT - Post-of-care testing; POST - Point-of-service testing