Poct Glucose Meaning,Test, Normal Range, Low & High

POCT Glucose Meaning

Point-of-care (POC) testing, unlike central laboratory tests, offers analytical information at the patient’s bedside. POC testing is commonly used in hospitalized patients to quickly determine glucose levels and make treatment recommendations. Home pregnancy and blood glucose monitoring are the most prevalent point-of-care testing.

Patients with diabetes who require monitoring their glucose levels multiple times each day are the target audience for the POCT blood glucose test.

The timely diagnosis of diabetes is very important because there is a risk of hyperglycemia among people who are not treated timely. Over time, it can damage various body systems, notably blood vessels and nerves. Therefore, diabetics need to document their blood sugar levels and constantly monitor data changes. They cannot visit the hospital multiple times a day for blood glucose.

Diabetes patients benefit from point-of-care blood glucose monitoring because it allows them to conduct self-tests at home and get real-time access to their blood sugar levels.

POCT Glucose Test

Diagnostic testing at the site of patient treatment, as opposed to in a centralized laboratory, is known as point-of-care testing (POCT). POCT can promptly report results, which can be used for diagnosis and therapy, reduce blood sample volume, and meet doctors’ demands to treat more patients. Before, during, and after POC glucose testing, several considerations need to be considered. For Example:

Preventing preanalytical mistakes by properly preparing test sites.
Analytical mistakes can be avoided by selecting test individuals whose physiological states permit correlation between capillary specimens and central venous blood glucose levels.
Correctly documenting the accuracy of the meter readings in the medical record is important to avoid making mistakes after the test is done.

Hyperglycemia and diabetes are major issues for hospitalized individuals. These people need their blood glucose levels monitored to receive the right medications and diet.

POCT Glucose Normal Range

The following are the ranges of the blood glucose level for non-diabetic and diabetic individuals:

3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L ( normal fasting blood glucose level)
50-70 mg/dL for non-diabetic individuals.

The different ranges for a POCT glucose test are as follows:

99 mg/dL (normal range).
Between 100 to 125 mg/dL (Pre-diabetic range).
Diabetes is confirmed by repeated fasting blood glucose tests of 126 mg/dL or above.
3.9 and under 5.5 mmol/l after a 12-hour fast (normal range).
Between 5.6 and under 7 mmol/l (Pre-diabetic range)
Below 7.8 mmol/l after 90 minutes of eating (normal range).

Glucose POCT accuracy depends on many factors, including manufacture, operator training, and patient characteristics. Any of these mistakes can add up to greater inaccuracy. Although there is no universally accepted glucose testing gold standard, data from point-of-care tests (POCTs) are compared to plasma glucose levels measured in a laboratory setting whenever possible.

POCT Glucose Low & High

As diabetes is so prevalent and has such a significant impact, glucose testing is an essential component of POCT. The best possible control of diabetes is maintained by people with diabetes by routine blood glucose monitoring. High and low blood sugar levels can be monitored in real-time, allowing for prompt adjustments to medication, nutrition, and lifestyle to avoid issues.

Ranges for High and Low:

Diabetics mostly suffer from hyperglycemia. Several causes can contribute to hyperglycemia in diabetics. Patients mostly experience the symptoms of high blood sugar levels at 180 to 200 mg/dL.
When the blood sugar level drops below a safe threshold, a condition known as hypoglycemia develops. Levels below 70 mg/dL are considered low for diabetics. Low blood sugar is prevalent among type 1 and type 2 diabetics who consume insulin or other diabetes medications.

High glucose levels indicate diabetes or indicate susceptibility to developing diabetes. High glucose levels can indicate the following: