# Analytical Evaluation of Three Portable Blood Glucose Meters for Human Use in Dogs

## TL;DR

This study tested three human blood glucose meters for use in dogs and found one to be reliable enough for veterinary use.

## Contribution

The study evaluates the reliability of human-use blood glucose meters for veterinary applications in dogs.

## Key findings

- The Accu-Chek Guide® meter met clinical precision criteria for use in dogs.
- None of the meters fully met analytical precision standards for glucose levels.
- Using the Accu-Chek Guide® did not negatively impact dog health.

## Abstract

Portable blood glucose meters (PBGMs) provide a convenient means of obtaining near-instantaneous glycemic measurements, serving as a valuable alternative in situations where laboratory resources are unavailable. This study evaluated the accuracy of three human-use PGMs in measuring glycemia in dogs, comparing their results to the gold-standard method. The goal was to ascertain whether these devices could be deemed reliable for veterinary application and whether treatment decisions based on these measurements could impact the health of the animals, particularly given the scarcity of veterinary-specific devices in Brazil and the rapid turnover of human-use devices in the Brazilian market.

Portable blood glucose meters (PBGMs) are essential for detecting glycemic disorders. In Brazil, veterinary devices are scarce, and human devices are used as an alternative. This study evaluated the accuracy of three human glucometers: Accu-Chek Guide® (ACG), Accu-Chek Guide Me® (ACGM) (Roche), and EcoCheck® (EC) (Eco Diagnóstica). A total of 419 glycemic samples were collected and compared to the glucose oxidase method (GOM), which is considered to be the gold standard. Despite a strong positive correlation compared to the GOM (ACG r = 0.96; ACGM r = 0.9; EC r = 0.89; p < 0.0001), when evaluated by the criteria defined by ISO 15197:2013 for analytical precision, no PG obtained 99% of the readings within the range of +/− 15 for glucose levels < 100 mg/dL and +/− 15% for glucose levels > 100 mg/dL (ACG = 57.9%, ACGM = 47.9%, and EC = 28.4%). ACG was the only PG that fully met the clinical precision criteria according to ISO 15197:2013, with 100% of its measurements in Zones A+B of the error grid. Despite analytical inaccuracy, the ACG PBGM proved to be the best among the devices tested in this study for use in dogs with whole blood samples, not generating any negative impact on animal health.