Accuracy of the Nova StatStrip^® glucometer in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: an observational study

While the Nova StatStrip^® Glucose Hospital Meter System (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA, USA) is approved for point-of-care testing (POCT) in critically ill patients, its use during major abdominal surgery has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of the Nova StatStrip glucometer in patients undergoing major hepatobiliary procedures using the Parkes error grid (ISO15197:2013) and criteria defined by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) POCT12-A3 guideline.

This study was a post hoc exploratory study of patients participating in a prospective randomized controlled trial on the effects of hyperinsulinemic normoglycemia (HNC) on infectious outcomes after hepatobiliary surgery. Arterial blood samples were collected before surgery and one hour, two hours, and three hours after baseline. Blood glucose levels were analyzed by the Nova StatStrip glucometer and the GEM^® Premier^TM 5000 blood gas analyzer. Accuracy of the StatStrip glucometer was assessed using the Parkes error grid for type 1 diabetes mellitus (when 99% of samples were within zones A and B on the Parkes error grid and clinical accuracy was acceptable) and the CLSI POCT12-A3 criteria.

Blood glucose levels were analyzed in 135 patients, 70 of whom received the HNC. In the Parkes error grid plotted, all samples at all time-points were within zones A and B. The Nova StatStrip glucometer also satisfied CLSI POCT12-A3 criteria at all time-points.

The Nova StatStrip glucometer was accurate in patients undergoing major upper abdominal surgery, independent of the administration of high-dose insulin therapy.

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01528189); registered 7 February 2012.