Using HemoCue for Hemoglobin Measurement in Resource-Limited Settings
Author Information
Author(s): Nkrumah Bernard, Nguah Samuel Blay, Sarpong Nimako, Dekker Denise, Idriss Ali, May Juergen, Adu-Sarkodie Yaw
Primary Institution: Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
Hypothesis
Is the HemoCue® hemoglobin photometer an effective point-of-care device for hemoglobin estimation in resource-poor settings?
Conclusion
The HemoCue method provides hemoglobin measurements comparable to other methods and is recommended for use in resource-limited settings.
Supporting Evidence
- The HemoCue method showed a high concordance correlation coefficient with Cyanmethemoglobin and Sysmex KX21N methods.
- The mean hemoglobin concentration measured by HemoCue was higher than that measured by the other methods.
- There was no significant difference in hemoglobin measurements after adjusting for confounders.
Takeaway
The HemoCue is a portable device that can quickly measure hemoglobin levels, making it useful in places where there are no advanced lab machines.
Methodology
Blood samples were collected from participants and hemoglobin concentration was estimated using HemoCue®, Sysmex KX21N, and Cyanmethemoglobin methods.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the manual operation of the methods and the variability in sample handling.
Limitations
The study may not be generalizable to all populations due to the specific resource-limited setting.
Participant Demographics
Participants included pre-school children, school children, pregnant women, non-pregnant women, and men, with an overall mean age of 19.4 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.994-0.996
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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