ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Evaluation of the HemoCue compared with the Coulter STKS for measurement of neonatal haemoglobin

I J Rechner, A Twigg, A F Davies, S Imong

Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Barrack Road, Exeter EX2 5DE, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Rechner, Neonatal Department, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Barrack Rd, Exeter EX2 5DF, Devon, UK;
ianorjennie{at}rechner99.freeserve.co.uk

Objective: To compare the measurement of haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) using the HemoCue haemoglobinometer with that using the Coulter STKS haemoglobinometer.

Design: Thirty two EDTA samples were taken from neonates. [Hb] was measured in these samples using the HemoCue; the samples were then transferred to the haematology laboratory for [Hb] determination with the Coulter STKS. In addition, [Hb] was determined in 50 different random EDTA neonatal samples already held in the laboratory, using the HemoCue and Coulter STKS.

Patients: Neonates in the intensive care and low dependency Units of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Interventions: Samples were collected from arterial lines or by venepuncture or heel prick into an EDTA bottle.

Main outcome measures: [Hb] using the HemoCue and Coulter STKS methods.

Results: The mean [Hb] measured using the HemoCue was 150.3 g/l (range 78–215) compared with 152.8 g/l (range 78–217) measured using the Coulter STKS, with a mean of the differences of 2.5 g/l. The standard deviation of the differences of the 82 samples was 3.73 g/l. The limits of agreement of the two methods (mean difference ± 2SD) were -4.8 to +9.8 g/l.

Conclusion: With adequate training and monitoring, the HemoCue can be used directly on the neonatal unit for rapid determination of [Hb] to within 7.5 g/l compared with the laboratory Coulter STKS, using much smaller sample volumes.

Keywords: HemoCue; haemoglobin; haemoglobinometer

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Hinds, L. E, Brown, C. L, Clark, S. J (2007). Point of care estimation of haemoglobin in neonates. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 92: F378-F380 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

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