Poor sensitivity of the fifty-gram one-hour glucose screening test for hyperglycemia

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1994 Jan;53(1):7-10. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(94)90129-5.

Abstract

To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the 50-g 1-h glucose screening test (GST) for hyperglycemia established in a home-monitored glucose profile (HGP) from blood sampled 1 h after each of the main meals on the following day, we prospectively studied 415 pregnant women at increased risk for gestational diabetes and compared 1 GST with 1 HGP. At the commonly recommended GST threshold of 7.8 mmol/l and an HGP threshold of 7.0 mmol/l, the sensitivity of the GST was 27%, the specificity 89%, and the likelihood ratio for a positive test 2.4. Therefore, we conclude that the 50-g 1-h glucose screening test discriminates poorly between pregnant women with and without postprandial hyperglycemia.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring
  • Diabetes, Gestational / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Glucose / administration & dosage
  • Glucose Tolerance Test / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glucose