Comparison between the Bayer ELITE glucometer and the hexokinase method for glucose determination on the Eppendorf EPOS 5060 using capillary whole blood samples.

The ELITE glucometer (Bayer Diagnostics), which uses a glucose oxidase sensor coupled to an amperometric measurement, was compared with the routine hexokinase method on the EPOS (Eppendorf--Netheler-Hinz) using commercially available reagents (Boehringer-Mannheim). Both methods were carried out using whole blood as sample. The comparison was made under routine conditions on 106 non-selected patients from whom a glucose determination had been requested. The results gave rise to a correlation coefficient of 0.986 with the regression equation: GlucoseELITE = 1.04 x GlucoseEPOS -0.201 mmol/l. Deviations between both methods were seen, although these had little or no clinical relevance. A positive deviation in favour of the ELITE was seen in a blood sample with 21.8 mmol/l glucose (EPOS) and 1025 mumol/l uric acid. A negative deviation, with respect to the ELITE, was seen in a blood sample with 3.00 mmol/l glucose (EPOS). Blood ethanol concentration up to 0.1 mol/l and uric acid concentrations up to 450 mumol/l did not directly influence the ELITE method. The intra-assay coefficient of variation of the ELITE glucometer was 5.3% at 4.95 mmol/l and 3.1% at 15.2 mmol/l. The corresponding inter-assay coefficients of variation were 6.8% at 5.14 mmol/l and 3.90% at 15.4 mmol/l. Both sets of results were derived from 20 measurements made consecutively or on 20 consecutive days. The ELITE glucometer proved to be a hygienic and practical alternative for on-site measurement of blood glucose and gave results comparable with those using the routine hexokinase method with haemolysed capillary blood.