Understanding the Hematocrit Effect on Glucose Testing Using Popular Point-of-Care Testing Devices

AbstractThe use of point-of-care testing (PoCT) blood glucose meters has spread from their intended purpose in the home environment to hospital wards often without appropriate evaluation or understanding of the meter’s limitations. There is substantial evidence that many of the commonly used PoCT blood glucose meters are adversely affected by hematocrit, and their use in intensive care units or on neonates may potentially lead to errors in patient care and an increased risk of iatrogenic or undetected hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.We explored the hematocrit interference on 3 glucose meters commonly used in hospital care: the Nova StatStrip Xpress, Abbott Optium Xceed, and Roche Accu-Chek Performa. Hematocrit interference was also investigated on 2 PoCT blood gas and electrolyte instruments: the Abbott i-STAT and Alere epoc. Determining the hematocrit interference on the PoCT blood gas and electrolyte instruments creates the opportunity for hospitals without on-site laboratories to confirm suspect results from blood glucose meters that may have been affected by hematocrit. In country South Australia, there are 55 hospitals without a laboratory that, until recently, relied solely on blood glucose meters for glucose results. All of these hospitals now have either an epoc or i-STAT, which can be used to confirm unexpected abnormal glucose results.The Nova StatStrip Xpress showed the least interference from hematocrit followed by the Accu-Chek Performa and Optium Xceed. Results ...
Source: Point of Care: The Journal of Near-Patient Testing and Technology - Category: Pathology Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research