The aim of this study was to compare the performance and accuracy of the BM Strip test used in conjunction with Reflectance photometry, and the new non-wipe strip test (Advantage) against a reference plasma glucose method. In total, 114 newborns consecutively admitted to the Neonatal Unit over a 6 mo period were enrolled into the study. Each newborn had their venous blood glucose measured by the BM Strip test and Advantage glucometer and the venous haematocrit was also determined. Plasma glucose was measured in the laboratory by the hexokinase method. The mean difference between the BM Strip test and plasma glucose was significantly less than the corresponding value for the Advantage glucometer (0.312, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11-0.51 vs 0.766, 95% CI 0.57-0.95], although the limits of agreement between both methods and plasma glucose were wide. Haematocrit did not influence significantly the accuracy of either test.
Conclusion: The new Advantage glucose meter does not offer any advantage over the BM Strip test. Owing to the wide limits of agreement of both methods compared with plasma glucose, their clinical value is limited in the neonatal period.