Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition
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Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. · Jul 2004
Evaluation of "point of care" devices in the measurement of low blood glucose in neonatal practice.
Low blood glucose in newborns is difficult to detect clinically. Hence a reliable "point of care" device (glucometer) for early detection and treatment of low glucose is needed. ⋯ Point of care devices should have good precision in the low glucose concentration range, sensitivity, and accuracy for early detection of neonatal hypoglycaemia. None of the five glucometers was satisfactory as the sole measuring device. The Glucotrend and Precision glucometers have the greatest sensitivity and negative predictive value. However, confirmation with laboratory measurements of plasma glucose and clinical assessment are still of the utmost importance.