EVALUATION OF THE HEMOCUE(R) FOR MEASURING INTRAOPERATIVE HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATIONS - A COMPARISON WITH THE COULTER MAX-M(R)

We compared haemoglobin concentration values obtained using a portable haemoglobinometer, the HemoCue, in the operating theatre with the res ults obtained by the Coulter Max-M in the laboratory. Haemoglobin conc entrations were measured on 52 arterial blood samples obtained from 13 patients during aortic surgery, in theatre with the HemoCue and again by the Coulter Max-M. Twenty routine samples from the laboratory were also analysed by both methods. There was no significant difference be tween results, with a mean of 10.94 g.dl(-1) and 10.90 g.dl(-1) for th e HemoCue and Coulter, respectively (p = 0.12, t = -1.99, df = 70). Th e limits of agreement of the two methods (mean difference +/- SD) were -0.37 and +0.45 g.dl(-1). The coefficients of repeatability of the 20 samples analysed in duplicate on each device were 0.26 g.dl(-1) and 0 .33 g.dl(-1), respectively. The coefficients of variance were 0.74% (H emoCue) and 0.93% (Coulter). With adequate training and monitoring, th e HemoCue provides comparable haemoglobin results for near-patient tes ting in theatre.