Glucose is one of the few chemical constituents of the blood that can change noticeably in its concentration. Many diseases cause a change in glucose metabolism but the most frequent cause of an increase in blood glucose is diabetes mellitus. The early detection of diabetes is important to avoid the many complications of the disease. The glucose tolerance test commonly done by recommended level for adults of a 75 g glucose drink to be consumed within a 5 min time period. The timing begins when the drink has been consumed. This test is known as the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). For these reasons, the physician may request an OGTT. Normally when the body receives such a dose, the pancreas responds by excreting insulin necessary for metabolism of the glucose. The degree and timing of the rising and falling of the glucose concentration measures the ability of a person to respond appropriately to a heavy load of glucose.
Aim:
The aim of OGTT experiment was to detect problems in the body’s metabolism of glucose.
Method:
For the OGTT, samples have been provided from 3 patients named (A, B, C). Moreover a random plasma glucose test was given to an additional patient (D) without fasting and without OGTT. The three patients (A, B, C) fasted for 12 hours before attending the clinic and on arrival an OGTT was given to all the three patients. The blood was then collected in fluoride/EDTA anticoagulant and centrifuged to separate out the blood cells. The samples are chosen as fasting (0) and 2 hour (2) for example B0 and B2 and can be used directly without dilution. But sample A2 needed to be diluted 1 + 2 with distilled water before use i.e. I ml of A2 was delivered into a clean LP4 tube by glass pipette followed by 2 ml of water. This diluted sample was used for the assay. Sample D was also prepared in the same way but without dilution. Duplicate tubes were prepared from 200 micro litres of all samples A to D.Standards were prepared from the
References: Linne.J.J, Ringsrud.K.M (1999), Clinical laboratory science (4th Ed), Mosby publication Estridge.B.H & e.tal (2000), Basic Medical Laboratory Techniques (4th Ed) Kaplan.L.A, & e.tal (2003), Clinical chemistry (4th Ed)