Point‐of‐care blood clotting test and its correlation with fibrinogen level: Potential in goal‐directed transfusion in postpartum hemorrhage

Abstract

To study the correlation of conventional point-of-care clotting test (POCCT) of whole blood with laboratory fibrinogen levels in women with primary major postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) to generate evidence regarding its potential in rationalizing transfusion of blood components for supplementing fibrinogen. A total of 68 samples were studied: 40 from women with primary major PPH, 20 from women without PPH, and eight samples of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP). POCCT was performed in the PPH and non-PPH groups and at the same time, sample for laboratory fibrinogen was sent. Values were correlated using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). Depending upon the laboratory fibrinogen values, POCCT in the PPH group was divided into three subgroups of less than 7, 7-11, and more than >11min as subgroups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Women in the PPH group (n=40) had a mean fibrinogen level of 346.15±143.37mg% with a significant negative correlation with POCCT (r=-0.69, P<0.001). Mean fibrinogen levels of non-PPH group and FFP samples were 602.1±169.72 and 286.75±103.42mg%, respectively. PPH subgroups 1, 2, and 3 had mean fibrinogen of 452.2±141.8, 332.58±138.51, and 158.71±145mg%, respectively. These values may potentially guide FFP transfusions. POCCT is easy, costs nothing and has a potential role in rationalizing FFP transfusion in low- and middle-income countries.