Accuracy of portable human glucose meter (Accu-chek® Performa) for blood glucose measurement in newborn piglets

Abstract

Blood glucose concentration is a significant postnatal survival indicator in newborn piglets. The standard
procedure is difficult to perform under field conditions and requires a long period of time for processing. Portable
glucose meters have been invented to yield a faster result and utilize a small blood sample. The present study aims to
compare glucose concentration mea s ur ed using a portable human glucose meter ( Accu- chek® Performa) with the
standard protocol. A total of 200 blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord of newborn piglets and were
measured using the portable human glucose meter immediately after birth. Serum was extracted from the blood sample
and was also analysed using the glucose oxidase method. Both methods were compared for each sample and were
analysed for agreement between the two methods. The average blood glucose concentrations in neonatal piglets were
49.1 ± 23.7 and 49.2 ± 23.7 mg/dl, with the 95% confidence intervals between 45.8 and 52.4 mg/dl and 45.9 and 52.9
mg/dl for the portable blood glucose meter and the glucose oxidase technique, respectively. The blood glucose
concentrations determined using the two methods highly correlated (r = 0.839, P < 0.001). The statistical test used to
determine the agreement between the two methods indicated that 96. 5% of the difference in blood glucose
concentration between the two methods was within the mean ± ( 2×standard deviation) , indicating good agreement
between the two methods. In conclusion, a portable human glucose meter can be used to determine blood glucose
concentration in neonatal piglets.