Transfusion
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Comparative Study
Unacceptable variability of hemoglobin estimation on samples obtained from ear punctures.
Sampling techniques were studied for the determination of the hemoglobin in volunteer blood donors. First, finger, ear, and venous samples were collected from 50 volunteers. Then five volunteers were monitored for a three-day period and finger, ear, and venous samples were collected daily. ⋯ We found that the microhematocrits averaged 7 per cent higher from blood obtained from ear puncture than from either finger puncture or venous puncture. Microhematocrits obtained from blood obtained by ear puncture were less accurate and less precise than blood from finger punctures. Finger puncture samples exclude approximately 6 per cent more donors than does blood from ear punctures.