Bedside glucose testing is one of the most commonly performed tests in the hospital and many clinicians take the accuracy and reliability of these results for granted. However, certain glucose meters have interferences from medications and other endogenous factors that can cause erroneous glucose meter results. Five recently published papers have reported that inaccurate results from these meters have lead to improper treatment, such as giving insulin to a patient who is hypoglycemic, which can cause catastrophic outcomes including death. This is an ongoing, real-life problem, with erroneous glucose meter results and inappropriate insulin administration.1-4 In addition to adverse events, meter errors can cause increased length of stay and cost of hospitalization.
This seminar will show how outcomes are achieved through improved glucose meter accuracy, discuss factors which can affect accuracy of some glucose meters and how to avoid them, and review implementation of an interference-free bedside glucose testing system which protects patients and providers.
Nam Tran
Ph.D., M.S., HCLD (ABB), CLS, MLS (ASCP), FAACC
Associate Dean and Vice Chair for Biobanking
University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Pathology
Martin Ekiti
MD
Associate Medical Director, Medical and Scientific Affairs,
Nova Biomedical
Karen Clarke
BS, MT (ASCP)SH
Point of Care Supervisor
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Memphis