Accuracy of portable human glucose meter (Accu-chek® performa) for blood glucose measurement in newborn piglets

Abstract

Blood glucose concentration is a significant postnatal survival indicator in newborn piglets. The standard procedure is difficult to perform under field conditions and requires a long period of time for processing. Portable glucose meters have been invented to yield a faster result and utilize a small blood sample. The present study aims to compare glucose concentration measured using a portable human glucose meter (Accu-chek® Performa) with the standard protocol. A total of 200 blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord of newborn piglets and were measured using the portable human glucose meter immediately after birth. Serum was extracted from the blood sample and was also analysed using the glucose oxidase method. Both methods were compared for each sample and were analysed for agreement between the two methods. The average blood glucose concentrations in neonatal piglets were 49. 1 ± 23. 7 and 49. 2 ± 23. 7 mg/ dl, with the 9 5 % confidence intervals between 45.8 and 52. 4 mg/dl and 45. 9 and 52. 9 mg/dl for the portable blood glucose meter and the glucose oxidase technique, respectively. The blood glucose concentrations determined using the two methods highly correlated (r = 0. 839, P < 0. 001). The statistical test used to determine the agreement between the two methods indicated that 96. 5% of the difference in blood glucose concentration between the two methods was within the mean ± (2×standard deviation), indicating good agreement between the two methods. In conclusion, a portable human glucose meter can be used to determine blood glucose concentration in neonatal piglets.