The Accuracy of Glucose Monitoring by Diabetic Individuals in Their Home Setting

Abstract
This study evaluated the accuracy of patient self- monitoring of blood glucose. Determinations were performed at home with simultaneous collec tions of whole blood into capillary tubes. Specimens were mailed to the laboratory where they were analyzed by a glucose-oxidase analyzer. A significant correlation was observed between pa tient determined and laboratory determined glucose values. However, patient-determined values differed from the laboratory values by >+20% in 53.8% of the samples. Inaccuracies were unrelated to training format, time since train ing, type of monitor, age, sex, duration of diabetes, frequency of monitor use, educational level, or knowledge of monitoring technique.