BEDSIDE GLUCOSE MONITORING - COMPARISON OF PERFORMANCE AS STUDIED BY THE COLLEGE-OF-AMERICAN-PATHOLOGISTS Q-PROBES PROGRAM

Objective.-To measure changes in practice characteristics and accuracy of bedside glucose monitoring between studies performed in 1991 and 1 994. Design.-Participants in a 1998 and a 1994 bedside glucose monitor ing study of the College of American Pathologists Q-Probes program wer e compared using data collected by a questionnaire for 15 quality vari ables and data from paired specimens for accuracy. Accuracy goals of b edside testing were those defined by the American Diabetes Association as within 10% of the laboratory value. Accuracy was estimated using a daily paired comparison of patient specimens for 30 days, one bedside glucose instrument, and individuals who commonly performed these meas urements. Setting.-Institutions subscribing to the College of American Pathologists' voluntary quality improvement program, Q-Probes. Partic ipants.-ln 1991 and 1994, 605 and 544 institutions collected data abou t performance characteristics, whereas 171 and 242 institutions partic ipated in the accuracy components, respectively. Main Outcome Measure. -Changes in accuracy between 1991 and 1994. Results.-When compared, im provement occurred for 12 of 15 quality variables. However, no signifi cant changes were found for the percentage of values within stated acc uracy goals. Conclusions-Although the process of bedside glucose testi ng improved between the 1991 and 1994 studies, the testing accuracy re mained unchanged.