A study was conducted to determine the effects of alcohol swabbing on reagent strip blood glucose (BG) measurements using Reflolux and Glucometer GX meters and the Exac Tech Pen. Sixty subjects were randomly allocated to one of the three meters. Each had three separate fingerpricks after either swabbing with 70% isopropyl alcohol and testing immediately or after drying for two minutes; or after no preparation; (n=180). BG was also determined at alcohol concentrations of 0%, 1%, 5%, 10% and 20% on hypo (1.2 mmol/l), normo (4.0 mmol/l) and hyperglycaemic (>28 mmol/) blood in vitro (six strips/meter/concentration, n=270). Increasing concentrations of alcohol caused reduction of BG at all glycaemias using the two meters (p=<0.01) (ANOVA). At alcohol concentrations of 20% the pen showed an increase of 1.5 mmol/l at euglycaemia, and an increase of 2.7 mmol/l into the normal range at hypoglycaemia (<2 mmol). Alcohol concentrations of blood in vitro caused inaccuracies in reagent strip BG readings. The errors varied with the type of meter, decreasing with reflectance meters, and increasing with the pen. In practice, however, swabbing with alcohol prior to testing had no effect on meter accuracy in the clinical setting.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.