Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How a hand-held hemoglobin meter works for cats and what affects it
By Sun, Yuqing et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2025·Ontario Veterinary College, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Method Comparison and Investigation of Interference Variables of a Hand-Held Hemoglobinometer(HemoCue Hb 201) in Cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 93 cats with anemia had their blood tested for hemoglobin levels using a new hand-held device called the HemoCue Hb 201, which only requires a tiny drop of blood and gives results in about a minute. The study found that this device provided results that were very close to those from traditional lab tests, making it a reliable option for quickly checking hemoglobin levels in cats. The HemoCue Hb 201 was not affected by other health issues like high white blood cell counts or kidney problems, suggesting it can be used effectively in various situations. This could help veterinarians make faster decisions about treating anemic cats.
People also search for: cat anemia treatment · how to check cat hemoglobin levels · hand-held hemoglobinometer for cats
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Regular blood sampling to monitor RBC mass in anemic cats can exacerbate anemia. Laboratory-based reporting can delay clinical decisions. A hand-held hemoglobinometer, HemoCue Hb 201(HC-201), requires only one drop of blood (10 μL) and provides results within 1 min. OBJECTIVES: This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the utility of HC-201 in cats and investigate the impact of potential interferents on its performance. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four venous blood samples in EDTA from 93 cats were analyzed. Hemoglobin concentration was measured once using an ADVIA 2120 analyzer and compared to the mean of 2-3 replicate measurements from an HC-201. Agreement and systematic bias between HC-201 and ADVIA results, along with precision between HC-201 replicates, were assessed using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient, non-parametric Bland-Altman, Passing-Bablok regression, and intraclass correlation coefficient. The performance of HC-201 in the presence of anemia, leukocytosis, azotemia, lipemia, icterus, hemolysis, and peripheral versus jugular venipunctures was assessed using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. RESULTS: Passing-Bablok analysis revealed a significant constant bias (intercept = -2.242, 95% CI: -4.042 to -0.667) but no significant proportional bias (slope = 1.015, 95% CI: 1.000-1.032). HC-201 demonstrated excellent agreement (ρ = 0.989) and precision (ICC = 0.997) with a median bias of -0.67 g/L (p = 0.001). The total observed error was 3.02%, within the allowable limits defined by international standards. Neither anemia, leukocytosis, azotemia, lipemia, nor venipuncture site influenced HC-201 measurements. Samples with icterus and hemolysis were insufficient in number for statistical comparison. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study indicates that HC-201 offers reliable point-of-care monitoring for hemoglobin concentration in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40662223/