Effect of packed cell volume on blood glucose estimations

The effect of changes in packed cell volume was studied in two commonly used reagent strip methods (Dextrostix and Reflotest) of measuring blood glucose and in a filter paper blood spot method. It was found that the results with both the reagent strip methods were greatly haematocrit-dependent. Attention is drawn to the possibility of false diagnoses of hypoglycaemia in haemoconcentrated patients and of normoglycaemia in anaemic patients.