Chemistry: Bedside Glucose Monitoring System Also Manages Data, Quality Control

Abstract

We evaluated the clinical performance of a new-generation meter system (Glucometer Encore QA+ [Bayer, Tarrytown NY]) for bedside glucose monitoring at one hospital laboratory and two bedside-testing locations. Within-run coefficients of variation ranged from 2.8% to 5.2%, and overall values ranged from 4.0% to 6.2% for three levels of aqueous glucose control. Meter results obtained by one medical technologist, four phlebotomists, and six nurses correlated well with laboratory plasma glucose levels. For the three sites, meter glucose results at the 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) level were biased by −3% to +2% when compared with those obtained in plasma at the hospital laboratory. We considered the system’s performance to be acceptable for point-of-care testing. The meter’s data management and record-keeping features increased the ease of overseeing and tracking quality control compliance.