Comparative Accuracy of 3 Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems that Communicate with an Insulin Pump

Endocr Pract. 2014 Oct;20(10):1016-21. doi: 10.4158/EP13484.OR.

Abstract

Objective: This study compared the accuracy of the Contour® Next Link blood glucose monitoring system (BGMS) with 2 other BGMSs (OneTouch® UltraLink® and Nova Max Link™), all 3 of which can communicate wirelessly with an insulin pump.

Methods: Study staff tested fingerstick samples from 112 subjects aged ≥18 years with each BGMS. All BGMS results were compared to YSI 2300 STAT Plus™ Glucose Analyzer results from the same sample source. To safely obtain a wide range of glucose values, 3 blood samples were obtained from each subject (1 sample was tested fresh from the fingertip [unmodified], and the other 2 samples were modified to raise or lower the glucose concentration). The primary endpoint evaluated was difference in accuracy among the BGMSs across the entire tested glucose range (34 to 561 mg/dL). Additional comparisons were made of accuracy in the low (≤80 mg/dL) and high (>180 mg/dL) glucose ranges. BGMS accuracy was assessed by mean absolute relative difference (MARD).

Results: The Contour® Next Link BGMS had a statistically significantly lower MARD from the reference value than the other BGMSs across the entire tested glucose range, calculated using all samples as well as only unmodified (i.e., natural) samples. In the low and high glucose ranges, the Contour® Next Link also had a statistically significantly lower MARD from the reference value than the other BGMSs.

Conclusion: As assessed by MARD, the Contour® Next Link BGMS was significantly more accurate than the other BGMSs evaluated, all of which can communicate wirelessly with an insulin pump.