A CLINICAL AUDIT OF COTSIDE BLOOD-GLUCOSE MEASUREMENT IN THE DETECTION OF NEONATAL HYPOGLYCEMIA

An evaluation of the use of cotside blood glucose measurement by BM Re flolux was undertaken as part of a unit audit programme. During the st udy period, 383 paired samples were obtained for both cotside and labo ratory analysis. There were 328 results from the cotside which were le ss than 4 mmol/L. Cotside measurements consistently underestimated lab oratory measurements but the differences were not related to age, gest ation, weight or haematocrit. The difference between cotside measureme nts and laboratory results was greater at lower blood glucose values. Confidence and prediction intervals of blood glucose values from cotsi de measurement suggest that this technique is not reliable for the dia gnosis of hypoglycaemia in the newborn. Indiscriminate and uncontrolle d use of cotside glucose monitoring should not be relied upon for clin ical management.