Are point-of-care measurements of glycated haemoglobin accurate in the critically ill?

Abstract

Introduction: Critically ill patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic hyperglycaemia may benefit from a more liberal approach to glucose control than patients with previously normal glucose tolerance. It may therefore be useful to rapidly determine HbA1c concentrations. Point-of-care (POC) analysers offer rapid results but may be less accurate than laboratory analysis. Aim(s): The aim of this study was to determine agreement between POC and laboratory HbA1c testing in critically ill patients with T2DM. Methods: Critically ill patients with T2DM had concurrent laboratory, capillary-, and arterial-POC HbA1c measurements performed. Data are presented as mean (standard deviation..