Precision and accuracy of a point of care glucometer for detection of hypoglycaemia in horses.

Abstract

Point-of-care (POC) glucometry is commonly used in horses; however, measurement error with this method when analysing hypoglycaemic samples (<4&#x202f;mmol/L) is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the precision and accuracy of glucometry in hypoglycaemic horses in comparison to a laboratory method of glucose measurement (LAB). Repeatability coefficients were 0.47&#x202f;mmol/L for POC and 0.09&#x202f;mmol/L for LAB, and coefficients of variation were 10&#x202f;% and 2.11&#x202f;%, for the POC and LAB methods, respectively. Systemic bias with the POC method was present, with a mean bias of -0.26&#x202f;mmol/L (95&#x202f;% limits of agreement: -0.88 - 0.37) in comparison to LAB, and <70% of measurements were within 20&#x202f;% of paired LAB results. Prior to use of glucometers, assessment of the diagnostic performance of the equipment is necessary, including determination of acceptable criteria and reference ranges for hypoglycaemic samples.