Hi Avril,

In a former life as a POCT lead I was asked this a few times. The WHO document on the diagnosis of diabetes (1999) states in Annex 2 that “Diabetes may be strongly suspected from the results of a reagent-strip glucose estimation, but the diagnosis cannot be confidently excluded by the use of this method.  Confirmation of diagnosis requires estimation by laboratory methods.”

My stance was therefore not to allow POCT methods for diagnosis of DM (in addition to the usual problems associated with POCT use, especially in the community). The only real challenge I had was from a HemoCue rep who said that while their method was POCT, it employs a laboratory method in the cuvettes it uses, therefore it is valid for diagnosis of diabetes in a GTT. We don’t have any glucose HemoCues so it didn’t go any further and there are still the issues of POCT reliability….

 

Kind regards,

Steph

 

 

 

Dear colleagues

As our GPs are being encouraged to undertake more and more oral glucose tolerance tests, more of them are doing the tests in the surgery (following the protocol provided by our laboratory). This morning I took a phone call from one GP who was interested in using POCT glucose meters to obtain the results rather than sending the samples to the laboratory.

 

Apart from the obvious facts of laboratory result vs POCT result, and the issues of capillary sampling, are there any other good reasons why POCT should not be used? Is anyone out there already doing this?

 

Kind regards

 

 

Avril

 

Avril Wayte

Consultant Biochemist

Clinical Chemistry

Ysbyty Gwynedd

Clinical Lead for Biochemistry, BCUHB

 

 

Cymraeg

Rhybudd Ebost (2010) - Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr

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English

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