SCREENING FOR ANEMIA IN PREGNANCY WITH COPPER-SULFATE DENSITOMETRY

Objective: The copper sulfate method of screening for anemia was evalu ated to determine its accuracy in antenatal patients. Method: In an an tenatal clinic in a tertiary referral center, which also serves a loca l urban black community, 100 antenatal patients were prospectively tes ted for anemia by Coulter hemoglobin analysis in comparison with the c opper sulfate test. The respective accuracy and costs of the tests wer e evaluated. Results: Once initial technical difficulties had been ove rcome, the copper sulfate test proved accurate in detecting a hemoglob in level < 10 g% in pregnancy (sensitivity 94%, specificity 95%, posit ive predictive value 80%, negative predictive value 99%). The cost of the copper sulfate test is estimated to be less than 0.3% that of the Coulter test. Conclusion: The copper sulfate test is accurate and inex pensive, and can be recommended for screening for anemia in pregnancy.