Validity of Point-of-Care Testing Mission Plus in Detecting Anemia

MODERN MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Noor Ani Ahmad*, MBBS, MPH; S Maria Awaluddin, MD; Rahama Samad, RN; Noraida Mohd Kasim, RN; Muslimah Yusof, RN; Mohd Aznuddin Abd Razak, BSc; Chan Ying Ying, MMedSc; Norhafizah Sahril, BS.

Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: Noor Ani Ahmad. Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jln Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: drnoorani@moh.gov.my

Published: June 25, 2015. DOI: 10.21103/Article5(2)_MME1

Abstract: 

Background: Point-of-care testing, POCT, was widely used to assess hemoglobin status before proceeding with the confirmation test. Our study aimed to assess the validity of Mission® Plus Hb in detecting hemoglobin levels in a general population compared with a standard laboratory hematology analyser as the gold standard.

Methods: Two types of samples, capillary and venous blood, were collected from all respondents by trained nurses. Both blood samples were tested using Mission® Plus while the remaining venous blood in EDTA test tubes was sent to the reference laboratory.

Results: A total of 622 respondents participated in this study, 75% of them females. The mean Hb tested from capillary blood using Mission® Plus Hb was 11.80±2.02g/dl. For venous blood, the mean Hb concentrations using Mission® Plus Hb and Sysmex XE-2100 hematology analyser were 12.16±1.84g/dl and 13.07±1.87g/dl, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity in detecting anemia from venous samples were 98.8% and 73.4% respectively. Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was 58.5%, while Negative Predictive Value (NPV) was 99.4%.

Conclusion: The findings of moderate PPV should alert the programme managers to the importance of a confirmatory test following screening using Mission® Plus Hb.

Keywords: 
anemia; Point-of-care testing (POCT); Mission® Plus Hb.
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Int J Biomed. 2015; 5(2):91-94. © 2015 International Medical Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved.