• Lucy E Hinds, Caroline L Brown, and Simon J Clark.
• Paediatric Department, Barnsley Hospital Foundation Trust, Barnsley, UK. markandlucyhinds@gmail.com
• Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2007 Sep 1;92(5):F378-80.

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether measurement of haemoglobin concentration in neonates using point of care testing agrees with laboratory measurement.Design127 paired blood samples taken from babies on a neonatal intensive care unit for full blood count and blood gas analysis by point of care testing were reviewed according to current practice. A comparison was made between the laboratory and blood gas analyser haemoglobin measurements to assess limits of agreement and look for any systematic difference.SettingNeonatal Unit, Jessop Wing, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK PATIENTS: Babies staying on the neonatal unit, who currently have contemporaneous blood samples taken for full blood count and blood gas analysis by point of care testing.InterventionResults from blood samples were reviewed.Main Outcome MeasureComparison between laboratory and point of care testing haemoglobin concentrations.ResultsThe mean laboratory haemoglobin concentration was 155 g/l (range 30-226 g/l); the mean point of care testing haemoglobin concentration was 157 g/l (range 30-228 g/l). The mean (SD) difference between paired samples was 2 (11) g/l; 95% CI -4.0 to 0.1 g/l; and limits of agreement -23 to 19 g/l.ConclusionsThe blood gas analyser on the neonatal unit at Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, gives a useful estimation of haemoglobin concentration compared with laboratory measurement, with smaller sample volume. Although this does not replace a full blood count, it is a useful adjunct to neonatal care monitoring.

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