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.