Blood glucose: Measurement in the point-of-care setting

Point-of-care testing (POCT) for glucose at the bedside or in the home or h ospital is used to monitor patients with diabetes-not to establish the diag nosis of diabetes mellitus, Successful POCT for glucose in the hospital req uires the formation of an administrative committee with membership from all affected areas. This committee will evaluate and approve the specific devi ce to be used, determine areas within the hospital and individuals to be tr ained and authorized to use the technology, and monitor the quality assuran ce, quality control and other records as reviewed by the POCT coordinator(s ). The POCT program for glucose should be evaluated to eliminate potential preanalytical analytical, and postanalytical errors. In the future, radiofr equency or modem to the laboratory information system will directly connect POC glucose devices, moreover, noninvasive measurement techniques will eli minate the present requirement for skin puncture.