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I confess to having a bee in my bonnet about glucometer accuracy and have previously tried, albeit clumsily, to initiate a discussion in order to see whether others are similarly afflicted.
Having accumulated around 10 relatively contemporary meters I am surprised by the often considerable variance between each. After much diligent time-wasting with candle and spreadsheet I am utterly convinced that the most significant errors result from a particular meter's ability to correct for high or low hematocrit. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in total blood volume and meters tend to read high if this volume is low (anaemia) and the opposite for higher red cell counts.
To illustrate, here is a paper that graphically shows the comparative variances between 17 meters: http://sites.bu.edu/bionicpancreas/...rs-Ekhlaspour-J-Diabetes-Sci-Technol-2016.pdf
Now here's my point. Out of the 10 meters that I have accumulated only a couple of them have provided consistent, dependable results for my lowish hematocrit level. The remainder had been consigned to the U/S drawer once the initial phial of test strips had been used. What a waste, yet pharmaceutical companies make such obscene profits from test strips that they can afford to treat their respective glucometers as freebie sprats. Hence I would bet that in terms of meter design economic considerations far outweigh absolute technical attainment.
Devices with good hematocrit correction are few and far between. The GlucoRX HCT is one such meter and this fellow even simultaneously displays hematocrit percentage underneath the blood glucose readout. Regretfully I believe he is in a minority of one.
My question is, how many of us would be willing to pay sensible money for a cutting edge device that uses economical test strips, negates known interference issues such as hematocrit, and exhibits a superior standard of accuracy? This versus the present norm of essentially disposable meters and excessively expensive test strips.
So, my proposition is that pharmaceutical companies develop and charge for a top quality meter and factor back the cost of providing free devices. This could then be offset against the price of test strips, resulting in superior testing, less wasted resources and a more committed customer base.
Having accumulated around 10 relatively contemporary meters I am surprised by the often considerable variance between each. After much diligent time-wasting with candle and spreadsheet I am utterly convinced that the most significant errors result from a particular meter's ability to correct for high or low hematocrit. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in total blood volume and meters tend to read high if this volume is low (anaemia) and the opposite for higher red cell counts.
To illustrate, here is a paper that graphically shows the comparative variances between 17 meters: http://sites.bu.edu/bionicpancreas/...rs-Ekhlaspour-J-Diabetes-Sci-Technol-2016.pdf
Now here's my point. Out of the 10 meters that I have accumulated only a couple of them have provided consistent, dependable results for my lowish hematocrit level. The remainder had been consigned to the U/S drawer once the initial phial of test strips had been used. What a waste, yet pharmaceutical companies make such obscene profits from test strips that they can afford to treat their respective glucometers as freebie sprats. Hence I would bet that in terms of meter design economic considerations far outweigh absolute technical attainment.
Devices with good hematocrit correction are few and far between. The GlucoRX HCT is one such meter and this fellow even simultaneously displays hematocrit percentage underneath the blood glucose readout. Regretfully I believe he is in a minority of one.
My question is, how many of us would be willing to pay sensible money for a cutting edge device that uses economical test strips, negates known interference issues such as hematocrit, and exhibits a superior standard of accuracy? This versus the present norm of essentially disposable meters and excessively expensive test strips.
So, my proposition is that pharmaceutical companies develop and charge for a top quality meter and factor back the cost of providing free devices. This could then be offset against the price of test strips, resulting in superior testing, less wasted resources and a more committed customer base.
