Every blood glucose meter claims that it's accurate. But what does accurate really mean in terms of blood glucose (BG)? Show
Pop QuizA. Does accurate mean that your blood glucose meter will show you the true BG? B. Does accurate mean that your blood glucose meter will show the same BG each time if you test multiple times from the same finger stick? C. Does accurate mean that your blood glucose meter will show the same BG as a different blood glucose meter if you test from the same finger stick? D. Is it none of the above? Yep! D: None of the above ;) What?! Meter Accuracy RealityNo at-home blood glucose meter will show a true BG — only a lab test can do that. (And actually, to be very technically correct, there is theoretically a true BG value, but it's impossible to measure — that's where statistics come in!) We can only estimate what the true BG value is by taking a sample. In order to be considered “accurate” and thus approved for use in at-home testing scenarios, the FDA requires that blood glucose meters provide:
This literally translates to:
For example, if your true BG value (again, measured in a lab) was 400 mg/dL, your blood glucose meter could show as low as 320 mg/dL or as high as 480 mg/dL. Even with that 160-point spread, the FDA would still consider either number (and all numbers in between) “accurate” because the number is within 20% of lab results. Sampling: The Food Dye TestYou might get different BG readings even from the same drop of blood because of a concept called sampling. Imagine that you have a glass of water and you drop some blue food coloring into the glass. In this example, the glass of water is your blood; the food coloring is the sugar in your blood. Different samples from that same glass might look more blue or less blue, depending on the way the food coloring is mixed with the water. The sugar mixes into the blood. You might test a blood drop with your meter that has more glucose. You might test a blood drop that contains less glucose. Both will be reflected in your two different BG checks, and both will be accurate. Sampling: Blood FlowHere's another way to think about it. Just like the H20 and food-coloring combo swirling around, churning different shades of blue, your bloodstream is constantly moving, churning different 'shades' of blood glucose. As your blood flows, so do all the glucose molecules inside of it. Depending on which blood glucose sample you take, you'll end up with a different sample with a different concentration of glucose. What About Comparing Meters?We've written about variation across blood glucose meters before, and it's definitely hard not to compare between two blood glucose meters and decide that the meter that gives you the “better” reading (the reading you want to see) is the more accurate one. But actually, each blood glucose meter uses different technology to produce a blood glucose reading, so you can't really compare meters. You can only compare a blood glucose reading to the true value, which you'll never know! Every meter uses its proprietary technology to measure blood sugar and, therefore, has a specific measuring bias. It's those biases that get us into trouble when we compare blood glucose across different meters. So what's a person with diabetes to do?✔︎ Lab standard checkCheck your blood sugar when you’re getting blood drawn venously. You can figure out the particular bias of your meter by comparing it to the most accurate blood sugar reading: a venous plasma reading measured in a laboratory setting. This lab result is not to be confused with the blood sugar test done on another standard, at-home blood glucose testing device; that's the same type of testing as your meter! Rather, use the same blood that's being used for your lab tests to simultaneously check blood sugar. Then, compare results. ✔︎ DTS seal of approvalAdditionally, make sure that you're relying on a blood glucose meter from a manufacturer that makes meters that have earned the Diabetes Technology Society (DTS)'s stamp of approval. The DTS recently released a study that evaluated the accuracy of almost every commercially available blood glucose meter. Only 6 meters got the DTS stamp of approval. The same technology in the Agamatrix meter that earned a stamp of approval from DTS is in your One Drop | Chrome (manufactured by Agamatrix). :) So you should feel confident using your One Drop diabetes meter like a #diabadass. Learn how One Drop can help you achieve Complete Health or click to shop our Complete Diabetes Management products. Link copied to the clipboard. × - Likes Rachel Sanchez-Madhur Feb 05, 2018 Additional ReadingA Slaw for All SeasonsThis flavorful and nutritious slaw combines Brussels sprouts and cabbage with a tangy dressy for a perfect side dish. Read more >Try this Rich and Savory Haitian Soup for New Year’sCelebrate New Year’s Day with soup joumou, a sumptuous and heart healthy Haitian beef and pumpkin soup. Why is glucometer reading higher than lab test?Here, they measure the amount of glucose in the plasma. This is the part of the blood left after taking out the blood cells. Thus, the two methods measure different parts of the blood, which leads to differences in the glucose values reported.
Why there is difference between glucometer and lab test?In medical office practice, laboratory test results usually take several days because the samples are sent to laboratory agencies. The use of glucometer is the only way to immediately measure the patients' glucose level in medical offices.
Is glucometer reading accurate?When used correctly, blood glucose monitors — small devices that measure and display your blood sugar level — are usually accurate. But occasionally they may be incorrect.
Which is more accurate for testing blood glucose?Venous blood glucose tests are generally more accurate than capillary blood glucose tests. Healthcare providers often order fasting blood glucose tests to screen for diabetes. Since eating food affects blood sugar, fasting blood glucose tests show a more accurate picture of your baseline blood sugar.
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