Pregnant females usually have lower blood glucose values than non-pregnant females. The criteria for an abnormal glucose tolerance test to diagnose gestational diabetes takes this into account. The test strips for measuring glucose contain a measuring pad mounted on a solid support strip. The pad contains reagents for measuring glucose in solid form covered by a layer that separates plasma from cells. After a color reaction that is proportional to the glucose present develops, quantitation is accomplished by inserting the strip in a reflectance meter.
Technique is very important in performing blood glucose by test strips.
The finger must be dry before blood is taken and excessive squeezing should be avoided. The amount of time the blood is left on the pad is critical as is how the blood is washed from the pad. While most glucose determinations will be performed to monitor known diabetic patients, they may also be used to screen for and diagnose the disease. New criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes were recently adopted. Emphasis is now being placed on the fasting glucose rather than the oral glucose tolerance test which is harder to standardize.