Blood glucose measurement with Dextrostix and new reflectance meter.

A new instrument, Eyetone, has been produced for use with a Dextrostix reagent strip for estimating blood sugar levels. It differs from the Dextrostix Reflectance Meter in having only one meter scale, a two-point calibration, and a range of measurement limited to 10-400 mg/100 ml. Results with the manufacturers' original calibration were unsatisfactory, but when recalibrated the performance of the instrument gave a regression equation line close to the ideal. The three Eyetone instruments tested were comparable in their accuracy and functional stability. Packed cell volumes in the blood samples in the range of 30-50% had a negligible effect on the results. The Dextrostix-Eyetone method represents a quick and reliable alternative to conventional laboratory methods for blood sugar estimation. It is especially useful for patients outside hospital.