Estimation of Haemoglobin with Arterial Blood Gas Analyzer Compared to Conventional Laboratory Methods In Intensive Care Unit.

Abstract

A sample of the patient's blood may be sent to the laboratory which allows (Haemoglobin) Hb to be measured using various methods, or the Hb value may be obtained by Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis in the operating room or Intensive care unit. Our aim was to compare haemoglobin level obtained by Arterial blood gas Analyzer with Conventional laboratory method. A Comparative observational study was designed, patients admitted for trauma to Intensive Care Unit from April 2015 to July 2015 of Tertiary care teaching Hospital and Research centre. Categorical data was represented in the form of Frequencies and proportions. Continuous data was represented as mean and standard deviation. Independent t test was used. A total of 80 consecutive paired analyses were conducted. T test showed the difference between the two methods was statistically significant. Using the method of Bland and Altman, the overall mean difference in Hb concentration between the coulter counter and the blood gas analyzer was -4.3 g/l (95% CI = -11.0 to 2.4). Of the 11 (5.4%) Hb measurements that extended beyond the upper and lower 95% CI, 10 (5.0%) were within ±3 g/l of these confidence limits. We concluded that, an arterial blood gas analyzer may provide a valid alternative method to the traditional coulter counter for the rapid assessment of Hb concentration among critically ill adults.