Performance Evaluation of Point-of-Care Glucose Meter in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Evidence from North-central Nigeria

Background: Accurate glucose measurement is central to effective glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While central laboratory plasma glucose measurement remains the reference standard, point-of-care testing (POCT) glucometers are widely used in clinical practice because of their convenience and rapid turnaround time. Objective:This study compared the analytical performance of POCT glucose measurement with central laboratory glucose measurement among patients with T2DM. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 confirmed T2DM patients attending the diabetes clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital, North-Central Nigeria. Fasting venous plasma glucose was measured using the hexokinase method on a Cobas c111 analyzer, while capillary glucose was simultaneously measured using a standardized On-Call Plus glucometer. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and Bland–Altman agreement analysis. Result: The mean glucose values were 9.24 ± 4.98 mmol/L for POCT and 7.40 ± 4.13 mmol/L for laboratory measurement (p < 0.0001). A strong positive correlation was observed (r = 0.91, p < 0.0001). Bland–Altman analysis showed a mean bias of 1.9 mmol/L, with limits of agreement from −2.3 to +6.1 mmol/L, indicating a tendency for POCT values to be higher. Conclusion: POCT glucose measurement demonstrates good correlation with laboratory glucose but shows a positive bias. Regular quality assurance and periodic comparison with laboratory methods are essential to ensure safe clinical use.