Effects of Different Methods Used to Take Blood Samples on Blood Glucose Measurements

Effects of Different Methods Used to Take Blood Samples on Blood Glucose Measurements

Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare whether or not there is a difference between venous and capillary blood samples in blood glucose measurements and investigate the effects of different aseptic methods used in skin cleaning before collecting blood samples on measurement results.

Background: Capillary blood glucose measurement is a frequently used measurement method in both clinical environments and the home environment. However, several different aseptic techniques are used in collecting blood samples for glucose measurement.

Design and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study that was conducted with 109 patients who visited the blood collection unit of a University Hospital located in Western Turkey for 75 gr OGTT between November 2017 and April 2018. The capillary first and second blood drop values taken from the patients after fasting and at two hours following OGTT and capillary and venous blood glucose values were compared.

The data were collected by the researcher at the waiting room of the blood collection unit at a close distance to the lavatory. A nurse working at the venous blood sample unit collected fasting and 2 hours after OGTT venous blood samples from the individuals who arrived at the blood collection unit for 75 gr OGTT. All venous blood and capillary blood samples were obtained in a shorter time than 5 minutes. In this study, capillary blood samples were taken from the same participant in four different ways:

• As the first intervention, the middle finger of the individuals agreeing to participate in the study was rubbed and wiped with a cotton infused with 70% alcohol, and 10 seconds were given for it to dry. Afterwards, by perforating the finger with a lancet, firstly the first blood drop glucose value and then the second blood drop glucose value were measured.
• As the second intervention, after ensuring that the individuals washed their hands with soap at the lavatory of the blood collection unit and dried their hands with paper towels, the middle finger of the right hand was rubbed, perforated with a lancet, and firstly the first blood drop glucose value and then the second blood drop glucose value were measured.
• As the third intervention, for the individuals whose hands had been washed, the middle finger of the left hand was rubbed and wiped with 70% alcohol-infused cotton, and 10 seconds were given for it to dry. The finger was perforated with a lancet and the first and second blood drop glucose values were recorded.
• As the fourth intervention, 2 hours after the individuals drank a beverage containing 75 gr of sugar for OGTT, in a state where their hands had been washed, the finger was wiped with 70% alcohol, left to dry, perforated with a lancet, and the first and second blood drop glucose values were measured and recorded

Inclusion Criteria:

• who had both upper extremities,
• good capillary saturation,
• blood glucose monitoring requests for OGTT,
• who were fasting for 8-12 hours before giving blood,
• who had requests for 75 gr sugar loading
• who volunteered to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• who refused to participate in the study,
• whose capillary blood glucose could not be looked at after sugar loading.