Assessment of glucose meter performance at the antenatal diabetes clinic: exploration of patient-related and pre-analytical factors

BackgroundTo assess glucose meter performance in a diabetes antenatal clinic, focussing on clinical and pre-analytical factors that might impact on the quantification of meter accuracy and precision.MethodsThe Freestyle Lite and the Performa glucose meters were assessed by trained researchers. Finger stick glucose was measured and compared with plasma venous glucose, obtained from a concomitantly collected antecubital fossa sample. Venous plasma was separated on-site then sent to the laboratory for measurement of glucose using the hexokinase method (comparative method). Additional data collected included: (i) timing of and also (ii) quantity of last carbohydrate intake; (iii) time periods between collection, preparation and analysis of the venous sample; (iv) the haemolysis index of the plasma sample and (v) haematocrit.ResultsThere were 104 participants. Both meters fulfilled ISO 15197 standards, with 99% and 97% of Freestyle Lite and Performa results, respectively, falling within acceptable limits for t...