[Evaluation of the efficacy and correlation between blood glucose measured using glucometers and enzymatic laboratory methods]

ABSTRACT

Diabetes Mellitus [DM] is the most common chronic metabolic disease, with many complications including renal failure, blindness and non-traumatic amputation, so it is important to monitor and regulate blood glucose. Considering how easy home blood glucose monitoring is, we decided to evaluate the performance of two available glucometers for detection of blood glucose compared with standard laboratory methods. In this analytical study, we compared the capillary blood glucose levels of 60 volunteers with mean age of 32.8 +/- 9.6 years in Tabriz Mehr Laboratory as determined by test strips [two different Glucometers] with venous blood glucose levels' measurements by the enzymatic method [the standard laboratory kit]. Data were analyzed using one way-ANOVA test, T-test, Pearson correlation and Bland and Altman plot. The mean differences of No 1 and No 2 Glucometers with enzymatic laboratory method were 20.78 +/- 11.61 and 4.5 +/- 3.76mg/dl respectively. The one way ANOVA test indicated significant differences between three methods [p<0.05]. Further Duncan's test revealed significant differences between two devices [p=0.001] and device No.1 and laboratory method [p=0.001]; however, the differences between device No.2 and laboratory method were not statistically significant [p=0.83]. According to the results, calibrating the devices with laboratory instruments in order to make major clinical decisions is recommended