Comparison of Glucose Levels of the First and Second Fingertip Blood Drops in Edematous Diabetic Patients Hospitalized in Intensive Care Units (Point Of Care Method)

Aims: Based on the principles of physiology, the blood used in the system of point of care is the capillary blood that its biochemical contents are in equilibrium with the mediastinum fluid. In edematous diabetic patients, the first and second blood drops of the stick place are apparently different. In the clinical centers of the country, the first drop is used as a blood glucose test using point of care method. The aim of this study was to compare the level of glucose through first and second fingertip blood and venous blood samples of edematous diabetic patients in stroke intensive care units. Materials & Methods: In this cross sectional, analytical descriptive study, 103 edematous diabetic patients were selected via available sampling method. The subjects were hospitalized in stroke ICU Qaem Hospital in Mashhad, Iran in 2012. Glucometry was performed, using first and second capillary blood drops and standard venous sample simultaneously. The data were analyzed by SPSS 17 software, using repeated meature ANOVA, paired t-test, and Bland–Altman plot. Findings: There was no significant difference in glucose levels in the first and second fingertip blood drops (p=0.257), while there was a significant difference between glucose levels in the first and second fingertip blood drops with standard venous sample (p<0.05). There was also a significant correlation between 2 drops in expression of glucometry results. Conclusions: The first or second fingertip blood drops have similar glucose test results