Reagent Strip Glucose Monitoring Methods in Chronic Hemodialysis

Reagent strip blood glucose testing methods have not been extensively validated in dialysis patients, a serious omission as thousands of diabetic patients are now entering dialysis. Severe anemia and uremia are potentially confounding variables that might impair those testing methods. Various methods were tested pre- and postdialysis, and compared with standard laboratory results. In general, strip methods (SM) underestimated laboratory results by approximately 15%. Extremes of blood urea nitrogen, hematocrit, or blood glucose levels did not affect this reliability. Such methods appear to be suitable for use in chronic hemodialysis patients.