QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF 2 LACTATE TEST STRIP METHODS SUITABLE FOR OBSTETRIC USE

Accuracy of lactate determinations in cord blood was tested for one re flectometric (Accusport(TM)) and one amperometric (Lactate Pro(TM)) mi crovolume test strip lactate meter. Both meters, using a whole blood s ample, measure lower levels of lactate than a reflectometric device co nsidered as a reference method, which analyses lactate in plasma. Read ings were unaffected irrespective of lactate concentrations for the La ctate pro(TM), whilst the Accusport(TM) overestimated low lactate conc entrations and underestimated high values. Both lactate meters underes timated lactate concentrations at high hematocrits, as compared with t he reference method. The Lactate pro(TM) has fixed sample volume of 5 mu l while the Accusport(TM) uses random blood drop as sample volume. However, in analyses with less than 20 mu l sample volume considerable underestimation was found with the Accusport(TM). Coefficient of vari ation was 3.8-8.9% for the Accusport(TM) and 3.1-4.0% for the Lactate pro(TM) within lactate concentrations between 2.1 and 5.3 mmol/l. The amperometric device, the Lactate Pro(TM) performed best in these tests dealing with fetal blood lactate concentrations. The new technique ca n be a useful tool in perinatal research as well as in obstetric pract ice.