Random capillary whole blood glucose test as a screening test for diabetes mellitus in an elderly population

We assessed the adequacy of the random capillary whole bloodglucose (RCBG) test as a screening test for estimating the prevalenceof diabetes mellitus in an elderly Finnish population (aged70 years or over). Both the screening test and a standard 2h oral glucose tolerance test made according to the WHO criteriawere administered to all participants. By using a cut-off pointof 7.4 mmol/l for men, 7.1 mmol/l for women and 7.2 mmol/l forthe total population, the RCBG test determined the prevalenceof diabetes accurately. The prevalence determined by the RCBGtest was 25.8% (men 21.0% and women 28.6%) and that determinedby the 2 h oral glucose tolerance test 26.1% (men 21.7% andwomen 28.6%). The study also indicated that the RCBG levelselevated with the increase of the severity and duration of diabetesand with the presence of hypertension. The conclusion is thatthe RCBG test with a proper cut-off point is an optimal testfor the estimation of the prevalence of diabetes and that theother properties of the test should be assessed according tothe clinical outcomes and later signs of the disease.