Accuracy of Blood Glucose Meter
We all knew that accuracy of blood glucose meter is very important, so as to know the correct level of glucose present in blood. It is very necessary for diabetic patients. Glucose meter is specifically used by diabetic patients, so accuracy of blood glucose meter plays an important role in the patient’s life.
Important Aspects of Accuracy of Blood Glucose Meter
- It is noticed that sometimes new meter gives a different result than old meter for the same test.
- There are some meters which give plasma results and others give whole blood results which both are accurate in their own respects.
- Many on us expect that all blood glucose meters should give the same result after measure measuring same test, but keep in mind that meters and lab equipments calculate different parts of the blood so the results appear differently.
- It is very important to know what accuracy is. It is noticed that home blood glucose meter test results are clinically accurate if it falls inside +/–20% of an accepted reference result of a lab test.
- In this way, we can say that the only way to be certain about meter’s accuracy are to compare the result with a lab test.
- Home meters and lab equipments take readings of blood differently and both the tests are said to be accurate representations of blood glucose levels.
- All blood glucose meters use whole blood to evaluate the level of glucose and lab analysis use plasma portion of the blood i.e. the RBCs are removed before glucose is analyzed.
- Because of this difference in sample types in laboratory and home glucose meter, the whole blood test results are roughly 12% lower as compared to plasma test results.
- Accurate comparison in the meter takes place when it is calibrated properly to read whole blood or in some cases the plasma.
- There is list of One Touch Meters available in market
- Once you find out about the meter which is whole blood or plasma calibrated, it becomes easier to compare it with the lab results.
- Whole blood-calibrated meters need the conversion to compare the results with the laboratory test results.
- To get the accurate result with that of the lab result, one must convert the lab result into its whole blood equivalent by dividing it with 1.12. E.g. if the laboratory result is 112, divide it by 1.12 which equals to 100 which is the whole blood equivalent of plasma glucose value.
Tips to Compare Accuracy of Glucose Meter with Lab Results
- Properly clean and code the meter to match the test strips you are using
- Perform a check strip to ensure that the meter and test strips are working properly.
- Avoid eating for 4 hours before the lab test
- Make sure that you are drawing blood sample for both the tests at the same time.
- Request the lab to do the test within 30 minutes of drawing the blood
Compare both the results, so as to know the accuracy of blood glucose meter and always keep in mind the difference between these two tests to know the exact blood sugar level.