COMPARISON OF THE HEMOCUE BETA-GLUCOSE PHOTOMETER AND REFLOTRON FOR OPEN-HEART-SURGERY

The HemoCue beta-glucose photometer (Angelholm, Sweden) was evaluated for use in monitoring blood glucose in both diabetic and nondiabetic p atients undergoing open heart surgery. Because occasional discrepancie s were noted in patients with low total proteins when the Reflotron (B oehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, IN) was used for this purpose, the e ffects of protein and hematocrit on glucose results from both instrume nts were investigated and compared with plasma values from a Paramax 7 20 ZX (Baxter Healthcare, Irvine, CA). Linear-regression analysis of t he HemoCue results (y) versus Paramax (x) yielded y = 0.956x + 0.35, r 2 = 0.980, with Sy/x = 0.57 mmol/L (10.3 mg/dL). Results from the Refl otron (y) versus Paramax (x) yielded y = 1.075x 0.10, r2 = 0.964, with Sy/x = 0.99 mmol/L (17.8 mg/dL). Bias plots of (HemoCue - Paramax) or (Reflotron - Paramax) versus glucose, hematocrit, or protein showed n o effect of glucose on the results from either instrument and no effec t of protein or hematocrit on the HemoCue findings. The Reflotron, how ever, showed a positive bias of up to 3.5 mmol/L (63 mg/dL) at protein concentrations between 30-40 g/L (3.0-4.0 g/dL) and a possible positi ve bias at low hematocrit levels.