Evaluation of Hypo-test, a semiquantitative audio urine-glucose analyzer for blind diabetic individuals

Hypo-test (Hypoguard Ltd., Suffolk, United Kingdom), a new semiquantitative audio urine-glucose analyzer for blind diabetic individuals, was tested for accuracy and reproducibility against a laboratory glucose method, and for ease of operation by two blind diabetic subjects. Hypo-test results were accurate for urine glucose in the range 0-0.75%, but there was a pronounced tendency for results to be too low at higher urine-glucose concentrations. The reproducibility at high urine-glucose concentrations was poor, and the meter was too sensitive to delays or decreases in the prescribed timing procedure. However, the two blind diabetic subjects found the instrument easy to operate.