A Noninvasive Hemoglobin Measurement Is Unreliable

Hemoglobin measurement is one of the most common serologic tests performed in emergency departments (EDs), and new noninvasive point-of-care (POC) testing may make obtaining a hemoglobin level as easy as acquiring a pulse oximetry reading. In a prospective study of 276 consecutive adult patients who presented to a single academic ED in France, researchers assessed concordance between hemoglobin measurements obtained with a noninvasive POC testing device (Masimo Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter) and with conventional laboratory testing.

Hemoglobin levels were significantly lower with POC testing than with conventional testing (mean difference, 1.59 g/dL).