ReportTwo 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(R) 2120) and compared. FINDINGS: 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 et al. BMC Research Notes 2010, 3:65 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/3/65 Open Access SHORT REPORT Short Report Two different hematocrit detection methods: Different methods, different results? Marco Bosshart†1, John F Stover†1, Reto Stocker1, Lars M Asmis2, Jörg Feige1, Thomas A Neff1, Reto A Schuepbach1, Silvia R Cottini1 and Markus Béchir*1