POCT Haemoglobin

Purpose:
Haemoglobin (Hb) is the iron containing oxygen transport metalloprotein in red blood cells and is one of the most common laboratory tests performed. The test is used to detect and measure the severity of anaemia, monitor the response to treatment, and help make decisions about blood transfusions.

Iron deficiency Anaemia is defined as a Hb < 130 g/L in men aged over 15 years, and <120 g/L in non-pregnant women aged over 15 years or children aged 12–14 years, and < 110 g/L during pregnancy. An Hb level of 110 g/L or more appears adequate in the first trimester, and a level of 105 g/L appears adequate in the second and third trimesters. Postpartum a Hb < 100 g/L is consistent with anaemia. POCT Hb is usually undertaken when a fast turnaround time is needed for immediate therapeutic decisions and are often used in the identification and management of anaemia in the perioperative pathway. POCT Hb can be measured on a blood gas analyser (BGA), and on specific POCT devices.

Scope:
The POCT Hb EQA Programme is specifically designed for the quantitative assay of Hb using a POCT Hb device, for Hb measurement using a BGA please refer to our Blood Gas/Co-oximetry EQA Programme.

The material is purified stroma free bovine haemolysate, requiring no prior preparation. Two samples are distributed bimonthly, with a minimum of 12 samples distributed over the year covering a wide, clinically relevant range. The samples consist of a panel of 5 samples distributed on a number of occasions over that period, which are used to assess both the user and device performance, including linearity, bias, within and between batch imprecision.

Key Features:

Ready to use samples in dropper bottles, no need for reconstitution.
Panel of samples distributed covering the pathological range.
Programme assesses both user and device performance, including linearity, bias, within and between batch imprecision.
Scoring based on Milan Model 3 performance specification.