Reflectometric Blood Glucose Determination in the Neonatological Intensive Care: Haematocrit Dependence

Abstract

The dependence upon haematocrit of the readings of different methods of reflectometric blood glucose determination (Eyetone/Dextrostix^® : Reflomat^® /Reflotest Hypoglycaemie^®, Reflomat^® /Reflotest Glucose^®, Glucometer^® /Dextrostix^®) was studied in blood samples adjusted to haematocrit values between 0.47 and 0.90. In general the reflectometric methods measure lower blood glucose concentration if the haematocrit value is enhanced. There is a clear-cut correlation between the rise in haematocrit and the decrease in blood glucose reading. The critical haematocrit level to reach this effect in the Eyetone^® and Glucometer^® is 0.60, and in the Reflomat^® it is 0.80.