Suggested standards for the use of comments on blood glucose results – (non-pregnant, non diabetic patients)

1. Recommendations should be given on the significance of results in line with guidelines from WHO/JBS2.
2. If comments are given they should be modified for inpatients.
3. There should be differentiation between random and fasting glucose samples.
4. Laboratories should ensure that GP reporting systems indicate whether the sample is random or fasting and the sample time shoud be available.
5. The laboratory report should indicate whether the sample is random or fasting.
6. Any stated glucose level at which DM is considered to be excluded should be evidence based.
7. Any stated glucose level at which a glucose tolerance test is recommended
   should be evidence based (10 laboratories used 6.1-6.9 mmol/l).
8. Comments should be provided on random glucose results and should be related to the glucose level.
9. Comments should be provided on all fasting glucose results and should be related to the glucose level. In patients with impaired fasting glycaemia (consensus range 6.1-6.9 mmol/l) a GTT should be recommended.
10. All comments should be evidence based.
11. Laboratories should have critical limits for phoning abnormal results in line with RC Path guidelines.