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Letters to the Editor

Indian Pediatrics 2003; 40:798

Hemoglobin Estimation Method


Kapoor, et al.(1), for estimation of hemoglobin, have compared the methods of Hemocue and Cyan-methemoglobin and suggested a correction factor. The basis for this comparative study is finally to estimate the anemia prevalence. Authors used overall pooled mean of the measurement in two methods and suggested a correction factor for Hemocue method. The use of suggested correction factor would under estimate the hemoglobin as compared to standard method in <7-hemoglobin category. As observed by the authors, this category produces low mean differences among three categories of Hemoglobin levels (7, 7-10, >10) in both the samples (capillary and venous). In this category, the misclassification of individuals assessed by Hemocue method after applying the suggested correction factor would be high. This is likely to result in overestimation of anemia prevalence. Authors could also have reported anemia frequency by two methods and examine the concordance in the paired sample to achieve their objective. If at all any correction factor is required, that should be after careful examination and demonstration of various cutoff points so that the misclassification is minimum. Further the determination of correction factor for hemoglobin should have also taken into consideration of age and sex of 151 and 351 subjects reported by the authors.

L. Satyanarayana,
Assistant Director (Biostatistics),
Institute of Cytology and Preventive
Oncology (ICMR), MAMC Campus,
New Delhi 110 002,
India.

Reference

1. Kapoor S K, Kapil U, Dwivedi S N, Anand K, Pathak P, Singh P. Comparison of HemoCue method with Cyanmethemoglobin method for estimation of Hemoglobin. Indian Pediatr 2002; 39: 743-746.

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