A clinical audit of cotside blood glucose measurement in the detection of neonatal hypoglycaemia.

An evaluation of the use of cotside blood glucose measurement by BM Reflolux was undertaken as part of a unit audit programme. During the study period, 383 paired samples were obtained for both cotside and laboratory analysis. There were 328 results from the cotside which were less than 4 mmol/L. Cotside measurements consistently underestimated laboratory measurements but the differences were not related to age, gestation, weight or haematocrit. The difference between cotside measurements and laboratory results was greater at lower blood glucose values. Confidence and prediction intervals of blood glucose values from cotside measurement suggest that this technique is not reliable for the diagnosis of hypoglycaemia in the newborn. Indiscriminate and uncontrolled use of cotside glucose monitoring should not be relied upon for clinical management.