OBJECTIVE: To determine the similarity in clinical consequences that follow, according to the guidelines of the Dutch General Practice Standards, from measured glucose and cholesterol concentrations with the Accutrend glucose cholesterol meter in general practice on one hand and the usual measurements in a laboratory on the other. DESIGN: Comparative study. SETTING: Two general practices in the district 'Zuid-Limburg' in the Netherlands. METHOD: 66 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 34 control patients had their capillary blood glucose and cholesterol concentrations measured with the Accutrend glucose cholesterol meter. The same measurements were done with simultaneously taken venous blood samples, according to usual laboratory methods, in a laboratory. The clinical consequences of the measurements in the general practice and the laboratory, according to the Standards, were compared and if they contained different recommendations they were regarded as clinically relevant. RESULTS: In 5% of the cases a clinically relevant difference between the glucose measurements done in the general practice and the laboratory was found. For the cholesterol measurements a clinically relevant difference was found in 18%. Besides, 16% of the cholesterol measurements in the general practice were outside the range of the meter. CONCLUSION: The Accutrend glucose cholesterol meter is a qualitatively good instrument for blood glucose measurements in general practice. For blood cholesterol measurements, the quality as well as the range of the meter are still insufficient.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the similarity in clinical consequences that follow, according to the guidelines of the Dutch General Practice Standards, from measured glucose and cholesterol concentrations with the Accutrend glucose cholesterol meter in general practice on one hand and the usual measurements in a laboratory on the other. DESIGN: Comparative study. SETTING: Two general practices in the district 'Zuid-Limburg' in the Netherlands. METHOD: 66 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 34 control patients had their capillary blood glucose and cholesterol concentrations measured with the Accutrend glucose cholesterol meter. The same measurements were done with simultaneously taken venous blood samples, according to usual laboratory methods, in a laboratory. The clinical consequences of the measurements in the general practice and the laboratory, according to the Standards, were compared and if they contained different recommendations they were regarded as clinically relevant. RESULTS: In 5% of the cases a clinically relevant difference between the glucose measurements done in the general practice and the laboratory was found. For the cholesterol measurements a clinically relevant difference was found in 18%. Besides, 16% of the cholesterol measurements in the general practice were outside the range of the meter. CONCLUSION: The Accutrend glucose cholesterol meter is a qualitatively good instrument for blood glucose measurements in general practice. For blood cholesterol measurements, the quality as well as the range of the meter are still insufficient.
Authors: Aldo Scafoglieri; Jonathan Tresignie; Steven Provyn; Jan Pieter Clarys; Ivan Bautmans Journal: Biochem Med (Zagreb) Date: 2012 Impact factor: 2.313