Comparing the Glucose Results by Glucometer and Laboratory Methods: A Prospective Hospital Based Study

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a rising global concern. Monitoring of blood glucose is an integral part of the management of diabetes. The use of glucometers is prevalent in clinical practice and has beneficial effects. There is need to ensure that reliable results are produced all the time.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the glucose level results obtained from the point of care glucometer with that obtained from the laboratory and to establish if there was a statistical significant difference between the two.

Study Design: This is a prospective descriptive study.

Location of Study: This study was conducted in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital antenatal clinic and the medical out-patient clinic.

Methodology: Fifty patients were selected for the study after institutional ethical committee’s clearance was obtained. The glucose level of each patient was assayed using both the glucometer and glucose oxidase method with the specimen run in duplicates and measured simultaneously. The results were compared using means, standard deviation, the error of means and correlation.

Results: The means were 4.02 mmol/l and 4.91 mmol/l from set one and 5.02 and 4.22 mmol/L from set two. The variation between the results were 46 and 70% respectively as against the maximum of 20% which is globally acceptable. The standard error of the mean was statistically significant. (p= <0.0001 and <0.001 respectively).

Conclusion: The percentage difference between the two sets of results was greater than the global recommendation. Despite the popularity and ease of glucometer use, standardization and quality assurance are imperative to accurately assessing blood glucose levels.