Evaluation of a second-generation electrochemical blood glucose monitoring system

One hundred and ninety-five diabetic patients attending hospital clinics gave blood samples to test the accuracy and precision of a second generation glucose sensor (satellite G, MediSense Inc., Abingdon, UK) with particular emphasis on its performance with venous blood. Sensor results correlated closely with a standard laboratory method; analysis of residuals showed no deviation from zero slope. Mean percentage difference was low (< +/- 6.0%) and the 95% limits of agreement were < +/- 30% with both capillary and venous blood. Error Grid Analysis showed that none of the measurements would have led to serious management errors. Precision of the system was good with coefficients of variation (CV) between 2.8% and 7.1% for glucose concentrations ranging from 3.0 to 24.0 mmol l-1. The mean CV for duplicate measurements was 5.4% with capillary and 4.4% with venous blood. We conclude that the electrochemical glucose method gives accurate and precise measurements of venous and capillary blood glucose.