Quality Control for Glucose Monitoring Programs

Abstract

Patients and hospitals are increas ingly monitoring blood glucose with sticks or meters. Until recently little thought has been given to quality con trol of blood glucose measurements outside the laboratory whether per formed by professionals or patients. Quality control programs assess both the test and those who perform the test. Accuracy is determined by using reference specimens. Precision is doc umented by repeat measurements of a given sample. Statistical analyses of the results can provide quantitative limits of confidence for all concerned. Since the professional may be held ac countable for the accuracy and preci sion of tests performed outside the laboratory, it is encumbent upon all to become involved in programs of quali ty control.