The objective was to assess the effects of short-term (≤1 hour) static high temperature and humidity stresses on the performance of point-of-care (POC) glucose test strips and meters. Glucose meters are used by medical responders and patients in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, homes, and the field. Reagent test strips and instruments are potentially exposed to austere environmental conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDisaster Med Public Health Prep
October 2012
Objective: To characterize the performance of glucose meter test strips using simulated dynamic temperature and humidity disaster conditions.
Methods: Glucose oxidase- and glucose dehydrogenase-based test strips were dynamically stressed for up to 680 hours using an environmental chamber to simulate conditions during Hurricane Katrina. Paired measurements vs control were obtained using 3 aqueous reagent levels for GMS1 and 2 for GMS2.
Objective: Point-of-care testing (POCT) devices are deployed in the field for emergency on-site testing under a wide range of environmental conditions. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of glucose meter test strips and handheld blood gas analyzer cartridges following thermal stresses that simulate field conditions.
Methods: We evaluated electrochemical and spectrophotometric glucose meter systems and a handheld blood gas analyzer.