Point-of-care blood test for ketones in patients with diabetes: primary care diagnostic technology update.

530 British Journal ofGeneral Practice, August 2011 ADVANTAGESOVEREXISTING TECHNOLOGY Earlier diagnosis of capillary blood ketones associatedwithhyperglycaemia facilitates the prevention of ketoacidosis, as well as prompt treatment.1 Urine ketone strips are semiquantitative and measurements do not accurately reflect current conditions if the urine has been in the bladder for several hours (for example, overnight) before testing. Bottled strips can lose their accuracy if the bottle has been open for several months. Results can also be affected by medications, giving false-positive results in thepresenceof drugs containing sulphydryl groups, or falsenegative reactions in thepresenceofascorbic acid. In some cases, patients may also be unable to provide a urine sample (for example, due to confusion).