Abstract

The effect of changes in packed cell volume was studied in two commonly used reagent strip methods (Dextrostix and Reflotest) of measuring blood glucose and in a filter paper blood spot method. It was found that the results with both the reagent strip methods were greatly haematocrit-dependent. Attention is drawn to the possibility of false diagnoses of hypoglycaemia in haemoconcentrated patients and of normoglycaemia in anaemic patients.