Question

For the POC (point of care), when you test hemoglobin, what is the Traditional lab instrument measurement mechanism?

Describe the mechanism or methodology (principle of operation) for the hemoglobin on the Central Lab instrument.

How does this instrument measure the hemoglobin as your POC instrument? (This instrument likely performs measurements on multiple analytes, but you need only describe the mechanism for hemoglobin.)

Answer 1

Point of care uses various testing devices. Point of care testing devices needs to have following features:

1. Safe

2. Easy to use

3. Effective and efficient

4. Provide quick testing

Point of care testing of haemoglobin is done to determine anemia and other blood disorders

Portable hemoglobinometer is one such device used for POC testing. They work on the principle of photometers and measure colour intensity of the solution. It consists of disposable microcuvette in used for making measurements and reaction vessel. The wall of cuvette contains dried reagent. The blood sample in collected on microcuvette and placed in the instrument. The instrument is precalibrated with  HiCN standard. The absorbance of the test solution is converted to ctHb automatically. The result is then displayed on the instrument in a few seconds.

Azide-methemoglobin method is one of the method used in central lab. The basic principle is conversion of hemoglobin to azide-methemoglobin which has more stable colour and identical absorbance spectrum to that of HiCN.

The reagent used is sodium azide for the more toxic potassium cyanide. The azide forms a complex with methemoglobin.

The azide-MetHb method is also used for POCT hemoglobinometers