Validation of capillary glucose measurements to detect glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus in the general population

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta 2004-03, Vol.341 (1), p.33-40
• Main Authors: Kruijshoop, Margriet, Feskens, Edith J.M., Blaak, Ellen E., de Bruin, Tjerk W.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Capillaries - metabolism; Cohort Studies; Cost effectiveness; Diabetes epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diagnosis; Diabetes screening; Fasting - metabolism; Female; Glucose Intolerance - diagnosis; Glucose tolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Insulin resistance; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Population; Prevention; Prospective Studies; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cccn.2003.10.033

Background: The use of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) has been recommended to diagnose type 2 diabetes, but an OGTT with venous blood sampling may not be feasible in the screening phase preceding large epidemiological studies. We have conducted a population-based screening in 2715 men and women and evaluated the diagnostic validity of capillary plasma glucose concentration measurements versus venous plasma glucose concentration measurements in a subset of 350 subjects. Methods: During a single OGTT, glucose concentrations were measured in venous plasma as well as in capillary plasma. Results: Based on the 1999 WHO criteria for venous glucose concentrations, the study population ( n=350) yielded 97 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 77 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and 176 subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Sensitivity and specificity to diagnose type 2 diabetes mellitus by capillary plasma were 84% and 98%, respectively. Consistent classification by either venous or capillary plasma glucose measurements was 78% ( κ=0.65, p