Evaluation of Hemoglobin Screening Methods in Prospective Blood Donors by Using Hemoglobin Photometers

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the current hemoglobin screening methods for prospective blood
donors in Thailand. Materials and Methods: Fingerstick capillary blood samples and venous blood samples
were obtained from blood donors and measured hemoglobin concentration by two hemoglobin photometers
(Hemocue 301 and DiaSpectT System) and Sysmex XS800i. Results: The comparison analysis showed a good
correlation between both hemoglobin screening methods and the venous-Sysmex method (the gold standard), for
fingerstick-Hemocue 301 r = 0.87 and r2 = 0.75 and for fingerstick-DiaSpectT r = 0.84 and r2 = 0.70. The mean
hemoglobin concentration of the venous-Sysmex method was 14.24 ± 1.21 g/dL (11.5-17.7 g/dL). The mean
hemoglobin concentration of fingerstick-Hemocue 301 method was 14.75 ± 1.28 g/dL (difference 0.51 ± 0.65 g/dl,
p < 0.01). The mean hemoglobin concentration of fingerstick-DiaSpectT method was 14.27 ± 1.35 g/dl (difference
0.03 ± 0.74 g/dL, p = 0.52). Conclusion: Hemoglobin concentration from the hemoglobin screening methods by
hemoglobin photometers had a good correlation with the result from the gold standard method, but there was
variation of accuracy according to the types of hemoglobin photometers.