Approved IFCC recommendation on reporting results for blood glucose: International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Scientific Division, Working Group on Selective Electrodes and Point-of-Care Testing (IFCC-SD-WG-SEPOCT)
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Paul D'Orazio
Abstract
In current clinical practice, plasma and blood glucose are used interchangeably with a consequent risk of clinical misinterpretation. In human blood, glucose is distributed, like water, between erythrocytes and plasma. The molality of glucose (amount of glucose per unit water mass) is the same throughout the sample, but the concentration is higher in plasma, because the concentration of water and therefore glucose is higher in plasma than in erythrocytes. Different devices for the measurement of glucose may detect and report fundamentally different quantities. Different water concentrations in the calibrator, plasma, and erythrocyte fluid can explain some of the differences. Results for glucose measurements depend on the sample type and on whether the method requires sample dilution or uses biosensors in undiluted samples. If the results are mixed up or used indiscriminately, the differences may exceed the maximum allowable error for glucose determinations for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes mellitus, thus complicating patient treatment. The goal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Scientific Division, Working Group on Selective Electrodes and Point of Care Testing (IFCC-SD-WG-SEPOCT) is to reach a global consensus on reporting results. The document recommends reporting the concentration of glucose in plasma (in the unit mmol/L), irrespective of sample type or measurement technique. A constant factor of 1.11 is used to convert concentration in whole blood to the equivalent concentration in plasma. The conversion will provide harmonized results, facilitating the classification and care of patients and leading to fewer therapeutic misjudgments.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2006;44:1486–90.
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©2006 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
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- National survey on the pre-analytical variability in a representative cohort of Italian laboratories
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Articles in the same Issue
- Initiation and progression of atherosclerosis – enzymatic or oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein?
- Blood transfusions in athletes. Old dogmas, new tricks
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- Increase in and clearance of cell-free plasma DNA in hemodialysis quantified by real-time PCR
- Lipoprotein lipase gene polymorphism at the PvuII locus and serum lipid levels in Guangxi Hei Yi Zhuang and Han populations
- Interpretation of cardiac troponin T behaviour in size-exclusion chromatography
- Point-of-care C-reactive protein testing in febrile children in general practice
- Improvement in HPLC separation of porphyrin isomers and application to biochemical diagnosis of porphyrias
- Measurement of late-night salivary cortisol with an automated immunoassay system
- Combining markers of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity for improved monitoring and detection of chronic alcohol abuse
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- National survey on the pre-analytical variability in a representative cohort of Italian laboratories
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- Effect of tibolone therapy on lipids and coagulation indices
- Acknowledgement
- Contents Volume 44, 2006
- Author Index
- Subject Index
