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Laboratory assessment of three glucometers
M O Ajala1, O O Oladipo, O Fasanmade
1Department of Chemical Pathology, General Hospital, Marina, Nigeria.
African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences
|March 20, 2004
Summary
Three common glucometers (Glucometer Elite, Accutrend Alpha, One Touch Basic) show acceptable technical performance for Nigerian healthcare settings. Their accuracy and precision make them suitable for diabetic patients and clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Clinical diagnostics
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Accurate blood glucose monitoring is crucial for diabetes management.
- Evaluating the performance of commonly used glucometers in specific healthcare environments is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the technical performance of three glucometers (Glucometer Elite, Accutrend Alpha, One Touch Basic) marketed in Nigeria.
- To determine their suitability for clinical use in the Nigerian environment.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated precision, accuracy, linearity, and the effects of haemolysis and haematocrit on each glucometer.
- Compared glucometer results with laboratory reference methods using venous blood, capillary blood, serum, and plasma.
Main Results:
- Intra-assay precision ranged from 1.4% to 11%, with Accutrend Alpha showing the best inter-assay precision (1.9% CV).
- All glucometers demonstrated excellent correlation with laboratory values (0.2-10.5% deviation).
- Glucometer Elite was most portable (5 ul blood volume); One Touch Basic was least affected by haemolysis; haematocrit <50% had no impact.
Conclusions:
- The technical performance of the evaluated glucometers is acceptable for use in Nigeria.
- Recommended for diabetic patients, emergency/intensive care units, and antenatal clinics, pending regular calibration.