Dynamic Interference Testing—Unexpected Results Obtained with the Abbott Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices

Background: Sensors for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are now commonly used by people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, the response of these devices to potentially interfering nutritional, pharmaceutical, or endogenous substances is barely explored. We previously developed an in vitro...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hendrick Jensch, Steven Setford, Nicole Thomé, Geethan Srikanthamoorthy, Lea Weingärtner, Mike Grady, Elizabeth Holt, Andreas Pfützner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/7/1985
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849730060090605568
author Hendrick Jensch
Steven Setford
Nicole Thomé
Geethan Srikanthamoorthy
Lea Weingärtner
Mike Grady
Elizabeth Holt
Andreas Pfützner
author_facet Hendrick Jensch
Steven Setford
Nicole Thomé
Geethan Srikanthamoorthy
Lea Weingärtner
Mike Grady
Elizabeth Holt
Andreas Pfützner
author_sort Hendrick Jensch
collection DOAJ
description Background: Sensors for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are now commonly used by people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, the response of these devices to potentially interfering nutritional, pharmaceutical, or endogenous substances is barely explored. We previously developed an in vitro test method for continuous and dynamic CGM interference testing and herein explore the sensitivity of the Abbott Libre2 (L2) and Dexcom G6 (G6) sensors to a panel of 68 individual substances. Methods: In each interference experiment, L2 and G6 sensors were exposed in triplicate to substance gradients from zero to supraphysiological concentrations at a stable glucose concentration of 200 mg/dL. YSI Stat 2300 Plus was used as the glucose reference method. Interference was presumed if the CGM sensors showed a mean bias of at least ±10% from baseline with a tested substance at any given substance concentration. Results: Both L2 and G6 sensors showed interference with the following substances: dithiothreitol (maximal bias from baseline: L2/G6: +46%/−18%), galactose (>+100%/+17%), mannose (>+100%/+20%), and N-acetyl-cysteine (+11%/+18%). The following substances were found to interfere with L2 sensors only: ascorbic acid (+48%), ibuprofen (+14%), icodextrin (+10%), methyldopa (+16%), red wine (+12%), and xylose (>+100%). On the other hand, the following substances were found to interfere with G6 sensors only: acetaminophen (>+100%), ethyl alcohol (+12%), gentisic acid (+18%), hydroxyurea (>+100%), <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">l</span>-cysteine (−25%), <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">l</span>-Dopa (+11%), and uric acid (+33%). Additionally, G6 sensors could subsequently not be calibrated for use after exposure to dithiothreitol, gentisic acid, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">l</span>-cysteine, and mesalazine (sensor fouling). Conclusions: Our standardized dynamic interference testing protocol identified several nutritional, pharmaceutical and endogenous substances that substantially influenced L2 and G6 sensor signals. Clinical trials are now necessary to investigate whether our findings are of relevance during routine care.
format Article
id doaj-art-cc17957fe45d4fae8a2ccc45ee916bea
institution DOAJ
issn 1424-8220
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Sensors
spelling doaj-art-cc17957fe45d4fae8a2ccc45ee916bea2025-08-20T03:08:59ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-03-01257198510.3390/s25071985Dynamic Interference Testing—Unexpected Results Obtained with the Abbott Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring DevicesHendrick Jensch0Steven Setford1Nicole Thomé2Geethan Srikanthamoorthy3Lea Weingärtner4Mike Grady5Elizabeth Holt6Andreas Pfützner7Pfützner Science & Health Institute, Haifa-Allee 20, 55128 Mainz, GermanyLifeScan Scotland Ltd., Inverness IV2 2ED, UKPfützner Science & Health Institute, Haifa-Allee 20, 55128 Mainz, GermanyPfützner Science & Health Institute, Haifa-Allee 20, 55128 Mainz, GermanyPfützner Science & Health Institute, Haifa-Allee 20, 55128 Mainz, GermanyLifeScan Scotland Ltd., Inverness IV2 2ED, UKLifeScan Global Corp., Malvern, PA 19355, USAPfützner Science & Health Institute, Haifa-Allee 20, 55128 Mainz, GermanyBackground: Sensors for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are now commonly used by people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, the response of these devices to potentially interfering nutritional, pharmaceutical, or endogenous substances is barely explored. We previously developed an in vitro test method for continuous and dynamic CGM interference testing and herein explore the sensitivity of the Abbott Libre2 (L2) and Dexcom G6 (G6) sensors to a panel of 68 individual substances. Methods: In each interference experiment, L2 and G6 sensors were exposed in triplicate to substance gradients from zero to supraphysiological concentrations at a stable glucose concentration of 200 mg/dL. YSI Stat 2300 Plus was used as the glucose reference method. Interference was presumed if the CGM sensors showed a mean bias of at least ±10% from baseline with a tested substance at any given substance concentration. Results: Both L2 and G6 sensors showed interference with the following substances: dithiothreitol (maximal bias from baseline: L2/G6: +46%/−18%), galactose (>+100%/+17%), mannose (>+100%/+20%), and N-acetyl-cysteine (+11%/+18%). The following substances were found to interfere with L2 sensors only: ascorbic acid (+48%), ibuprofen (+14%), icodextrin (+10%), methyldopa (+16%), red wine (+12%), and xylose (>+100%). On the other hand, the following substances were found to interfere with G6 sensors only: acetaminophen (>+100%), ethyl alcohol (+12%), gentisic acid (+18%), hydroxyurea (>+100%), <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">l</span>-cysteine (−25%), <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">l</span>-Dopa (+11%), and uric acid (+33%). Additionally, G6 sensors could subsequently not be calibrated for use after exposure to dithiothreitol, gentisic acid, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">l</span>-cysteine, and mesalazine (sensor fouling). Conclusions: Our standardized dynamic interference testing protocol identified several nutritional, pharmaceutical and endogenous substances that substantially influenced L2 and G6 sensor signals. Clinical trials are now necessary to investigate whether our findings are of relevance during routine care.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/7/1985continuous glucose monitoringAbbott Libre 2dynamic interference testingDexcom G6interferents
spellingShingle Hendrick Jensch
Steven Setford
Nicole Thomé
Geethan Srikanthamoorthy
Lea Weingärtner
Mike Grady
Elizabeth Holt
Andreas Pfützner
Dynamic Interference Testing—Unexpected Results Obtained with the Abbott Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices
Sensors
continuous glucose monitoring
Abbott Libre 2
dynamic interference testing
Dexcom G6
interferents
title Dynamic Interference Testing—Unexpected Results Obtained with the Abbott Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices
title_full Dynamic Interference Testing—Unexpected Results Obtained with the Abbott Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices
title_fullStr Dynamic Interference Testing—Unexpected Results Obtained with the Abbott Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic Interference Testing—Unexpected Results Obtained with the Abbott Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices
title_short Dynamic Interference Testing—Unexpected Results Obtained with the Abbott Libre 2 and Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices
title_sort dynamic interference testing unexpected results obtained with the abbott libre 2 and dexcom g6 continuous glucose monitoring devices
topic continuous glucose monitoring
Abbott Libre 2
dynamic interference testing
Dexcom G6
interferents
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/7/1985
work_keys_str_mv AT hendrickjensch dynamicinterferencetestingunexpectedresultsobtainedwiththeabbottlibre2anddexcomg6continuousglucosemonitoringdevices
AT stevensetford dynamicinterferencetestingunexpectedresultsobtainedwiththeabbottlibre2anddexcomg6continuousglucosemonitoringdevices
AT nicolethome dynamicinterferencetestingunexpectedresultsobtainedwiththeabbottlibre2anddexcomg6continuousglucosemonitoringdevices
AT geethansrikanthamoorthy dynamicinterferencetestingunexpectedresultsobtainedwiththeabbottlibre2anddexcomg6continuousglucosemonitoringdevices
AT leaweingartner dynamicinterferencetestingunexpectedresultsobtainedwiththeabbottlibre2anddexcomg6continuousglucosemonitoringdevices
AT mikegrady dynamicinterferencetestingunexpectedresultsobtainedwiththeabbottlibre2anddexcomg6continuousglucosemonitoringdevices
AT elizabethholt dynamicinterferencetestingunexpectedresultsobtainedwiththeabbottlibre2anddexcomg6continuousglucosemonitoringdevices
AT andreaspfutzner dynamicinterferencetestingunexpectedresultsobtainedwiththeabbottlibre2anddexcomg6continuousglucosemonitoringdevices