MEASUREMENT OF GLUCOSE CONSUMPTION BY HYBRIDOMA CELLS GROWING IN HOLLOW-FIBER CARTRIDGE BIOREACTORS - USE OF BLOOD-GLUCOSE SELF-MONITORING DEVICES

Two different types of blood glucose self-monitoring device, designed for use by diabetics (Accu-Chek Advantagee(R) and Accu-Chek III(R)), w ere evaluated for the purpose of monitoring glucose concentration in t issue culture media. The Accu-Chek Advantage(R) meter was found to sys tematically overestimate the glucose concentration in a variety of com monly used tissue culture; media by 50-90%, in comparison with their f ormulated glucose concentration. The Accu-Chek III(R) meter reliably e stimated glucose concentrations from 100 to 300 mg/dl and overestimate d glucose concentrations above 300 mg/dl. The systematic overestimatio n of glucose concentration in tissue culture fluids by the Accu-Chek A dvantage(R) meter was further investigated. A standard curve was const ructed and the meter reading was found to be linearly related to the a ctual glucose concentration and the best linear fit was given by the f ormula y = -43.504 + 1.9246x, where y is the meter reading and x is th e actual glucose concentration. Rearranging the equation to make x the subject gave the following algorithm x = (y + 43.504) divided by 1.92 46 which could be used to correct the 'raw' meter reading. The mean co rrected glucose concentrations deviated from the formulated glucose co ncentration by less than 3.5% in five media tested, indicating that th is meter is more than adequate for monitoring glucose consumption by c ells growing in hollow fiber cartridge bioreactors, when used in conju nction with this correction factor. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.