Evaluation of five portable blood glucose meters for use in dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate clinical and analytical accuracy of 5 portable blood glucose meters (PBGM) used to measure blood glucose concentrations in dogs and to determine potential sources of error.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

ANIMALS

221 dogs.

PROCEDURE

Venous blood samples were obtained, and results of the 5 PBGM were compared with results of a hexokinase reference method. Agreement among methods was determined by use of error grid analysis and statistical methods.

RESULTS

Accuracy of the PBGM varied with glucose concentration of the sample. The largest differences between results of the PBGM and results of the reference method were obtained with samples with high glucose concentrations; 4 PBGM tended to underestimate and 1 PBGM tended to overestimate the true glucose concentration. Absolute differences between results of the PBGM and results of the reference method were small for samples with low glucose concentrations and samples with concentrations in the reference range. None of the PBGM yielded measurements that would result in clinically unacceptable errors. Within-run and between-day precision was good for all PBGM, and results were not affected by use of EDTA or heparin to anticoagulate blood. Readings of the PBGM were significantly higher for blood samples with low Hct than for samples with normal Hct. For 3 PBGM, samples < 3 microliters resulted in inaccurate measurements.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results suggest that currently available PBGM are sufficiently accurate for use in clinical practice to determine blood glucose concentrations in dogs.