Validation of low-volume blood collection tubes for routine hematologic testing.

Background: Low-volume blood tubes offer several advantages in facilitating blood collection, reducing iatrogenic anemia and spurious hemolysis, but their clinical reliability must be validated. We planned this investigation for establishing the reliability of routine hematologic testing in low-volume tubes before their implementation into clinical practice.

Methods: Blood was drawn from 44 ostensibly healthy laboratory professionals into three blood tubes, as follows: 3.

Screening fasting glucose before the OGTT: near-patient glucometer- or laboratory-based measurement?

Objectives: The measurement of fasting glucose is a common practice for lowering the risk of hyperglycemia before an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In this study we analyze advantages and limitations of near-patient measurement of capillary fasting glucose with a portable glucometer or blood sampling and measurement of plasma glucose with laboratory instrumentation.

Methods: The final study population consisted of 241 subjects (mean age: 36 ± 8 years; 97.