Estimation of blood glucose by Reflometric Method

Reflometric Method (a method of blood glucose Estimation)

This is a simple enzyme method in which oxidaseperoxidase enzyme and the colour reagent are impregnated on the reagent strips. 

The method uses a Reflocheck meter to register the amount of glucose in the blood.

Estimation of blood glucose by Reflometric Method

Technique 

• A drop of capillary blood is placed on the test strip which after the prescribed time interval is wiped and inserted into the instrument. 

• The colour change is read in a reflectance meter on which the result in mg/dl is visualised.

• There are many instruments based on the same principle which are used mainly by diabetic patients.

Advantages of Reflometric Methods

• They are simple and reliable.
• They have excellent correlation with reference methods.
• They give good precision and accuracy.
• The meter is automatically calibrated by the barcode on each test strip. They are battery or mains operated.
• They can measure values as high as 450 mg/dl. 

Causes of Abnormal Glucose Levels
Severe hyperglycaemia	Mild/transient hyperglycaemia	Severe hypoglycaemia
1. Diabetes mellitus	1. Severe liver disease	1. Insulinoma
2. Adrenal cortical hyperactivity (Cushing's syndrome)	2. Pancreas disorder	2. Hypopituitarism
3. Acromegaly	3. Pituitary disorder	3. Ectopic insulin production from tumours
4. Obesity	4. Steroid therapy	4. Adrenal cortical insufficiency
	5. Shock 6. Convulsions
	7. Acute stress reaction (Physical or emotional)