Laboratory, nurse and patient assessment of Glucostix blood glucose reagent strips

The new Glucostix (Ames) blood glucose reagent strips have been assessed for accuracy and acceptability by nurses using them on the ward and by patients at home. When used with a Glucometer II, Glucostix showed close correlation with blood glucose measured by Yellow Springs Analyser (r = 0.97, p less than 0.001). Using the strips without a meter patients achieved a good correlation with the Yellow Springs Analyser when measuring their own capillary blood glucose (r = 0.94, p less than 0.001). Ward nurses were less precise (r = 0.87, p less than 0.001) and this, perhaps, reinforces the importance of regular quality control to maintain the precision of blood glucose monitoring using reagent strips. Comparing Glucostix with BM Glycemie 1-44 strips, 14 of 15 nurses preferred Glucostix whereas patients showed no overall preference, 37% preferring BM Glycemie 1-44, 33% Glucostix, and 30% stating no preference. There were only minor differences between the two reagent strips. Both groups considered the Glucostix colour change to be easier to read, particularly when using the perforated bench readers, but some thought Glucostix needed more blood and that it was more difficult to remove from the pad. Thus, the Glucostix system provides an accurate measure of blood glucose and is an acceptable alternative to BM Glycemie 1-44 strips for use at home or on the ward.