TMSS Medical College Journal

The accuracy of blood glucose estimation using capillary blood with glucometers has been questioned. This study was done to determine the mean difference and correlation between capillary blood glucose estimation with glucometer in comparison to laboratory blood glucose analysis by analyzer in outdoor patients. Blood glucose levels were synchronously analyzed using a glucometer on capillary blood and in venous sample using a laboratory based multichannel analyzer. Mean difference and correlation coefficients were determined. A total of 126 subjects (aged 13-88 years) were enrolled, with 100% data capture. The mean laboratory glucose was 7.8 mmol/l. The mean capillary blood glucose was 8.54 mmol/l (mean difference compared with mean laboratory glucose 0.7 mmol/l; 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 0.9). The mean venous derived blood glucometer glucose was 7.14 mmol/l (mean difference compared with mean laboratory glucose 0.66 mmol/l; 95% CI 0.6 to 1.2). The correlation coefficient for the laboratory blood glucose versus the capillary blood glucometer glucose was 0.99 mmol/l (p<0.001). The correlation coefficient for the laboratory blood glucose and the venous blood glucometer glucose was 0.97 (p<0.001). Variation occurred between the glucometer and the laboratory blood glucose results. So it was concluded that there is a significant difference in the blood glucose results analyzed on a bedside glucometer when the samples are taken from capillary blood and laboratory analyzer when samples are taken from venous blood. Although good correlation is the norm between venous and capillary derived samples, caution must be exercised in accepting the results as equivalent or using either as substitutes for a laboratory blood glucose result.

Blood sugar estimation is a commonly performed practice in the diabetic as well as non-diabetic patients. Handheld blood glucose meters are easily available, simple & cost effective way to check blood sugar in general population. It is commonly used for home monitoring of blood glucose in diabetic patients as well as to screen diabetes in people not known to be diabetic. But the accuracy of blood glucose estimation using venous derived blood with glucometers designed for capillary sample testing has been questioned.! In addition, concer has also been raised about the accuracy of capillary blood glucose estimation in the face of systemic illness, and it has been suggested that in such patients, venous sampling may be more accurate. The aim of this study was to determine the mean differences and correlation of capillary and venous bedside glucose estimation in comparison with laboratory blood glucose analysis. |