DETECTING HYPOGLYCEMIA IN VENOUS-BLOOD - COMPARISON OF 2 NEONATAL BEDSIDE GLUCOSE MONITORS

We evaluated the performance of the One Touch II Hospital in neonatal mode (Lifescan, Militipas Calif) and Accu-Chek II (Boehringer Mannheim , Indianapolis) in screening for neonatal hypoglycemia. We used blood with low-to-normal glucose concentrations and a wide range of hematocr its to mimic infant blood. Single-donor adult blood was collected in h eparinized tubes and allowed to metabolize overnight. Red blood cells were separated and reconstituted With the plasma, normal saline, and 1 0% dextrose to 5 hematocrits and 6 approximate plasma glucose concentr ations. All 30 combinations of hematocrit and glucose concentration we re tested. The One Touch II Hospital glucose monitor showed the best a ccuracy of numeric results (32%-78% vs 11%-54%), precision (pooled sta ndard deviation, 2.4 mg/dL vs 4.6-13.9 mg/dL), and correlation (Pearso n's r, 0.95-0.98 vs 0.82-0.86). Sensitivity and specificity for hypogl ycemic glucose levels were statistically similar.