[Specimen carriers for blood sugar determinations].

The use of boric acid-impregnated filter paper has proven to be a useful and reliable means of absorbing capillary blood samples for determining glucose concentration. In this method a circular piece of filter paper (6.36 mm radius) infiltrated with the blood sample is punched out with a commercially available punch, glucose is eluted from the filter paper with a haemolyzing solution and subsequently glucose concentration determined by whatever method is available. Using the hexokinase method, this gives satisfactory precision and unimpaired accuracy. It compared well with the frequently used sampling with capillary tubes, correlating with an r value of 0.9932. The sample, obtained as described, is insensitive to light, temperature, humidity and time interval until measurement. Glucose concentration remains stable under various conditions for at least four weeks.