Two different hematocrit detection methods: different methods, different results?
BACKGROUND
Less is known about the influence of hematocrit detection methodology on transfusion triggers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare two different hematocrit-assessing methods. In a total of 50 critically ill patients hematocrit was analyzed using (1) blood gas analyzer (ABLflex 800) and (2) the central laboratory method (ADVIA® 2120) and compared.


RESULTS
Bland-Altman analysis for repeated measurements showed a good correlation with a bias of +1.39% and 2 SD of +/- 3.12%. The 24%-hematocrit-group showed a correlation of r2 = 0.87. With a kappa of 0.56, 22.7% of the cases would have been transfused differently. In the-28%-hematocrit group with a similar correlation (r2 = 0.8) and a kappa of 0.58, 21% of the cases would have been transfused differently.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a good agreement between the two methods used to determine hematocrit in clinical routine, the calculated difference of 1.4% might substantially influence transfusion triggers depending on the employed method.
Bosshart
Marco
M
Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital of Zurich, CH 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Stover
John F
JF
Stocker
Reto
R
Asmis
Lars M
LM
Feige
Jörg
J
Neff
Thomas A
TA
Schuepbach
Reto A
RA
Cottini
Silvia R
SR
Béchir
Markus
M