Name
Performance of a new model of a veterinary portable blood glucose meter in ferrets
Description
Disorders affecting glucose homeostasis in ferrets are extremely common. Human portable blood glucose meters tend to underestimate blood glucose in ferrets.1,2 The glucometers OneTouch Ultra 2 (LifeScan Inc) and Contour (Bayer) showed differences to actual glucose levels between +9.2 mg/dL to -53.2 mg/dL (OneTouch Ultra 2) and +36.0 mg/dL to -64.8 mg/dL (Contour) in 95% of the cases. The canine setting of the AlphaTrak (Zoetis), considered more accurate than the feline one, differed to glucose levels measured with a laboratory analyzer of +34.1 mg/dL to -30.3 mg/dL in 95% of the cases.2 A subsequent model of the same veterinary glucometer (AlphaTrak 2, Zoetis) showed similar inaccuracy, with results expected to differ between +38.5 mg/dL and -47.3 mg/dL.3 The objective of the present study is to evaluate the performance of a new model of a widely-distributed veterinary portable blood glucose meter in ferrets (AlphaTrak 3, Zoetis). Ferrets presented at a veterinary referral hospital and that had glucose measured with a hexokinase-based analyzer for clinical reason had, at the same time, glucose measured via two strips of the veterinary portable blood glucose meter. Bland-Altman analysis was used to determine agreement between the portable glucose meter and the reference analyzer. Preliminary results showed a mean difference of 2.8 mg/dL (18.2% of reference value), ranging from +65 to -31 mg/dL. The newer model of the veterinary portable blood glucose meter on a canine setting may be more accurate than previous models, but caution is warranted when interpreting results obtained with it. References (no space)
Session Type
Lecture (25 Min)