A comparison of four glucose monitors in a hospital medical surgical setting

Four bedside glucose monitors were evaluated and compared for accuracy in correlation with concomitant laboratory glucose values. Of these four monitors--Diascan, Glucometer Q.A., Accucheck, and One Touch--two bedside glucose monitors were comparable with a correlation coefficient of 0.91 for Glucometer Q.A. and 0.90 for One Touch. These two machines were then evaluated for precision and linearity. Although the Glucometer Q.A. was more precise for all three levels of glucose, the One Touch linearity was almost perfect. Lastly, in asking nursing staff for an evaluation of One Touch and Glucometer Q.A., 15 of 16 staff members preferred One Touch.