Measurement techniques
Two major methods have been used to measure glucose. The first, still in use in some places, is a chemical method exploiting the nonspecific reducing property of glucose in a reaction with an indicator substance that changes color when
reduced. The more recent technique, using enzymes specific to glucose, is less susceptible to this kind of error. The two most common employed enzymes are glucose oxidase and hexokinase. In either case, the chemical system is commonly
contained on a test strip which is inserted into a meter, and then has a blood sample applied. Test-strip shapes and their exact chemical composition vary between meter systems and cannot be interchanged. More precise blood glucose measurements are performed in a medical laboratory, using hexokinase, glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase enzymes.
Blood glucose laboratory tests
1. fasting blood sugar (i.e., glucose) test (FBS)
2. two-hr postprandial blood sugar test (2-h PPBS)
3. oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
4. intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT)
5. glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C)
6. self-monitoring of glucose level via patient testing
7. Random blood sugar (RBS)
8. Average blood glucose may be estimated by measuring glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)
