RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Diagnostic accuracy of haemoglobin colour strip (HCS-HLL), a digital haemoglobinometer (TrueHb) and a non-invasive device (TouchHb) for screening patients with anaemia
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 164
OP 170
DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2015-203135
VO 69
IS 2
A1 Neogi, Sutapa Bandyopadhyay
A1 Negandhi, Himanshu
A1 Kar, Rakhee
A1 Bhattacharya, Maitrayee
A1 Sen, Rajeev
A1 Varma, Neelam
A1 Bharti, Priyanka
A1 Sharma, Jyoti
A1 Bhushan, Himanshu
A1 Zodpey, Sanjay
A1 Saxena, Renu
YR 2016
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/69/2/164.abstract
AB Aim Estimation of haemoglobin (Hb) remains a challenge, particularly in outreach settings. There is a need to have a simple and cost-effective device to detect anaemia. Three devices (haemoglobin colour scale (HCS)-HLL (Hindustan Lifecare Limited), TrueHb V.1.1, TouchHb Alpha 1.1- non-invasive) have been developed in India recently. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of these tests (index) for the screening of anaemia against haematological autoanalyzer (reference).Methods The study was conducted in four medical colleges of India. All consenting adult patients (>18 years of age) undergoing routine investigations were included. Each patient underwent the reference test and at least one index test. Outcome assessors for the index tests were blinded to the results of the reference test. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated using cut-offs proposed by WHO.Results A total of 5244 patients underwent the reference test while HCS-HLL, TrueHb and TouchHb tests were conducted on 2745, 2331 and 2874 patients respectively. The positive likelihood ratio of HCS-HLL using capillary blood (1.2), venous blood (1.7) and TouchHb (1.5) was lower than TrueHb capillary (3.7; 95% CI 3.3 to 4.2) and venous blood (5.7; 95% CI 4.9 to 6.6). TrueHb had a sensitivity of 74.4% (95% CI 71.9% to 76.8%) for venous and 82.0% (95% CI 79.8% to 89.2%) for capillary samples. The specificity was high (>75.0%). The area under receiver operating characteristic was close to 80.0%. Consistent results were seen for detection of severe anaemia.Conclusions The digital method (TrueHb) emerged as a better diagnostic method for screening anaemia. Its effectiveness should be established in outreach settings before further recommendation.