Point-of-care testing of blood glucose in the neonatal unit using the AVL Omni 9 analyser.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Blood glucose measurements in newborns at risk of hypoglycaemia are an essential part of their medical management. Blood glucose measurements obtained by point-of-care testing using an AVL Omni 9 blood gas and metabolite analyser were compared with those obtained in the central laboratory using a Dade Dimension RXL analyser. METHODS: Blood glucose was measured at the point of care by nursing staff using an AVL Omni 9 blood gas and metabolite analyser and compared to results obtained in the central laboratory using a DADE Dimension RXL analyser. In total, 123 samples were taken from 114 babies admitted to the neonatal unit. RESULTS: The limits of agreement between the AVL Omni 9 and the central laboratory were 0.0 +/- 0.6 mmol/L for glucose values between 0.5 and 13 mmol/L. Regression analysis showed AVL Omni 9 glucose = 0.977 x plasma glucose+0.14. There was also a good correlation (r = 0.92) between the AVL Omni 9 and the DADE Dimension RXL analyser for glucose values < 3 mmol/L. The limits of agreement for the AVL Omni 9 when compared with the DADE Dimension RXL analyser were -0.1 +/- 0.5 mmol/L. DISCUSSION: Point-of-care testing of blood glucose using the AVL Omni 9 blood gas and metabolite analyser is a reliable means of measuring blood glucose and has the advantage of providing a fast result using small volumes of blood.