Evaluation of a new reflectance photometer for use in home blood glucose monitoring.

A new reflectance photometer (Glucometer, Ames Division, Miles Laboratories, Elkhart, Indiana) has been developed for use with the Dextrostix reagent strip. The device measures 8 X 17 cm, weighs 330 g, uses AA batteries, and requires no warm-up. High (330 mg/dl) and low (50 mg/dl) calibrations are stored in memory and need be repeated only when: (1) a control solution (100 mg/dl) reading is in error, (2) ambient temperature changes by more than 5 degrees C, (3) a new bottle of Dextrostix is used, and (4) batteries are changed. A 60-s timer with alarm helps make timing of the procedure consistent. Nineteen insulin-dependent and one non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects each performed a minimum of 20 blood glucose determinations over a 3-mo period in the investigators' laboratories. Simultaneous capillary blood samples were obtained for plasma glucose analysis by a comparative method. A total of 602 patient-determined glucose values ranging from 30 to 400 mg/dl were compared with simultaneous laboratory values. These values correlated significantly (r = 0.96, P less than 0.0001, y = 2.6 + 0.92x). The Glucometer-Dextrostix System is an accurate and convenient method for home blood glucose monitoring by diabetic patients.