Blood glucose meter performance under hyperbaric oxygen conditions

This study evaluated the accuracy of the Precision PCx (PCx) against another bedside blood glucose meter SureStepPro (SSP), which has been shown to be unaffected by high P(O(2)). Human blood samples were used to prepare plasma glucose (PG) concentrations over a range of 25-300 mg/dl (1.4-16.6 mmol/l). Samples were sequentially tonometered with two separate gas mixes at 1520 mmHg (203 kPa) to P(O(2)) values of 1200 and then 60 mmHg, allowing measurement of each blood sample at both P(O(2)) values. The SSP PG measurements were unaffected by high P(O(2)): compared with PG concentrations measured at a P(O(2)) of 60 mmHg, the SSP readings at a P(O(2)) of 1200 mmHg were higher by only 1.3 +/- 6.5 mg/dl (0.1 +/- 0.4 mmol/l). At a P(O(2)) of 60 mmHg, compared with the SSP, the mean bias and imprecision (S.D. of bias) of the PCx were 4.1 and 22.9 mg/dl (0.2 and 1.3 mmol/l). At a P(O(2)) of 1200 mmHg, the bias and imprecision of the PCx were 47.9 and 35.1 mg/dl (2.7 and 2.0 mmol/l). Therefore, compared to the SSP, the PCx does not provide as accurate a measurement of PG in blood when used either at 760 mmHg (101 kPa) or inside the hyperbaric chamber at 1520 mmHg (203 kPa).