[Self-monitoring of blood glucose]

As the point of care testing(POCT), devices for self-monitoring blood glucose(SMBG) are most common. The problems in SMBG can be found in the popularity of SMBG itself. The reasons for the problems are three. First is the innovation of technology. As each maker has developed devices based on their own intention, device to device difference is too large, so that the standardization is needed. The second reason is the immediate measurement which, done independently of laboratory technicians, is insufficient in the quality control. The third reason is that although the health insurance covers the cost of SMBG, medical institutions buy devices and give them to patients who have limited right to choose for themselves. It is expected that specialists in laboratory medicine should be positively concerned with the standardization, introduction, and quality control of SMBG devices.