Non-invasive technology to determine the haemoglobin level of blood donors at the SANBS

Abstract

Background: Predonation haemoglobin (Hb) check has been done traditionally by the copper sulphate (CuSO4), or the haemocue haemoglobinometer methods. Both of these require a fingerprick of the donor to obtain capillary blood samples. It is thought that a non-invasive, but accurate method of Hb check will reduce stress to the donor and improve the donation experience.

Aim: This study aims to establish the suitability of a non-invasive method, the Haemospect^R transcutaneous Hb measurement system for screening prospective donors at the cut-off Hb value of 12.5g/dl.

Materials and methods: All donors who presented for platelet and/or plasma donation at the multi-disciplinary donor centre of SANBS in Port Elizabeth were considered for enrolment. Hb was measured by both the standard automated method on venous EDTA samples, and by the Haemospect^R transcutaneous Hb measuring device.

Results: A total of 161 subjects were studied, including white, black, and coloured, male and female donors. The calculated sensitivity of the Haemospect^R was 94.6%. The average percentage variance in Hb measurement between the two methods was 1.2%, while 70.8% of subjects had a percentage variance within10% of the venous Hb result.

Discussion and conclusion: The result shows that the accuracy of the Haemospect^R measurement was within the 1.5g/dl ascribed to the CuSO4 method. This suggests that the non-invasive method was at least as sensitive as the traditional screening methods. Further large-scale study is recommended to validate the findings in this pilot study.

Keywords: Donor screening, haemoglobin, non-invasive, capillary sample; copper sulphate