Comparison of Point of Care (POC) Testing of Glucose by B Braun Glucometer and Hemocue Glucose 201+ Analyser Versus Centralised Testing in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

BACKGROUND Neonatal hypoglycemia is the most common carbohydrate metabolic disturbance seen in case of neonates and especially in preterm neonates. Accurate and rapid determination of hypoglycemia and its prompt treatment is of utmost importance to decrease morbidity and mortality of neonates. AIMS To estimate blood glucose in neonates and test the efficacy of HemoCue Glucose 201+ analyser and B Braun Glucometer by comparing with centralised laboratory testing. To compare the blood glucose in capillary and venous blood samples of neonates. SETTINGS AND DESIGN Hospital setting; Comparative Study Materials and Methods: After obtaining informed consent, all neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) were screened for blood sugar. Capillary and venous blood glucose was estimated employing HemoCue Glucose 201+ analyser and B Braun Glucometer. Simultaneously, the same venous sample was collected in fluoride tube and sent to central clinical biochemistry laboratory for glucose estimation. When anaemia or polycythemia was clinically suspected the same venous sample was sent for estimation of Hematocrit (Hct). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Comparison of blood glucose concentration of B Braun glucometer, HemoCue Glucose 201+ analyser and centralis/ed plasma glucose levels was done by using students test. All the statistical analysis were done using software SPSS 6 version. RESULTS Mean values of blood glucose (100.2 + 48.4) with B Braun glucometer was significantly higher (p=0.003) when compared to plasma glucose values (76.95 + 45.99) estimated in central laboratory and HemoCue glucose 201+ analyser (82.9 + 51.4). HemoCue glucose 201+ analyser did not show significant difference (p=0.463) with central laboratory testing. There was no significant difference between the capillary and venous sample estimated in both the instruments. Estimation with HemoCue glucose 201+ analyser correlated well with central laboratory testing in neonates with blood glucose <55mg/dl, CONCLUSION We conclude that HemoCue glucose 201+ analyser appears to be a suitable point of care (POC) blood glucose measurement device in neonates on both capillary and venous blood samples, as it showed a good correlation with central laboratory values without significant interference from Hct.