Probable glucometer interference caused by topical iodine solution test site preparation
A M Lipshutz1, E M Hawes2,3,4
1Department of Pharmacy, Mount Carmel West Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
|August 9, 2016
Summary
Povidone-iodine skin preparation can interfere with modern glucometers, causing inaccurate blood glucose readings. Always ensure proper hand hygiene before testing to obtain reliable glucose measurements.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Medical Devices
- Point-of-Care Testing
Background:
- Skin disinfection is standard practice before blood glucose monitoring.
- Previous studies indicated that certain disinfectants could affect glucose meter accuracy.
Observation:
- A case study involving a pregnant woman highlighted significant glucose meter inaccuracies.
- The inaccuracies were linked to the use of 10% povidone-iodine solution for skin preparation.
Findings:
- Topical iodine likely caused variable and erroneous blood glucose readings.
- Replacing iodine with hand washing resolved the issue, confirming a probable drug-device interaction.
Implications:
- This interaction can occur with current electrochemical glucometers.
- Clinicians should consider improper testing techniques, including disinfectant use, when encountering aberrant glucose readings.
