Background: Anemia is a major global problem that affects women and prevalent during pregnancy. Effective management is needed to prevent adverse maternal and pregnancy outcomes. Ferrous iron salts are the preparation of choice and recommended for both prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). However, most commonly available iron supplement are poorly absorbed, with gastrointestinal disturbances as side effect. Objective: To compare the efficacy of iron amino acid chelate and ferrous sulfate in the treatment of IDA among pregnant women seen at the out-patient department of a tertiary medical center. Methodology: This study is a single blind randomized clinical trial which included women 18 to 40 years old, with singleton pregnancies diagnosed with IDA without any co-existing fetal and maternal complications seen at the OutPatient Department. Forty eight eligible participants were randomized, with 24 women allocated on each treatment arm who took their assigned treatment twice a day for 90 days. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCHC, MCV, RDW & serum ferritin levels were taken at baseline and monitored on days 30, 60 and 90 from initiation of treatment. Mean blood parameters between two treatment arms were compared on days 30, 60 and 90 post-treatment as well as the mean difference of blood parameters on days post-treatment from the baseline using T-test. Chi-square was used to compare adverse effects between two treatment arms. Results: No statistically significant differences in the mean blood parameters on days 30 and 60 of treatment between Iron amino acid chelate and Ferrous sulfate. It was only on day 90 from initiation of treatment when there were a significantly higher hematocrit and MCHC and lower RDW in Iron amino acid chelate compared to Ferrous sulfate group. All of the CBC parameters on days 30, 60, and 90 post-treatment when compared to baseline level were significantly increased for both treatment arms. However, day 90 level of serum ferritin in the Iron amino acid chelate group significantly increased unlike those in ferrous sulfate group. Conclusion Iron amino acid chelate is comparable to Ferrous sulfate in the treatment of IDA among pregnant women. Iron amino acid chelate was found to be superior to Ferrous sulfate in achieving optimum treatment response even at a lower dose with lesser adverse effects. Hence, better oral iron treatment tolerability, thereby, compliance to long-term therapy can be expected resulting to successful treatment outcome.
Hemoglobins ; Hematocrit

No abstract available.
Hematocrit* ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis*

BACKGROUND: The domestic quantity of blood components consumed has been decreasing since 2002, but the rate of a single unit RBC transfusion (SUT) has been on the increase. In the past, a SUT was regarded as an uncesssary procedure, but currently is considered as an effective method to maintain a minimal hemoglobin concentration for physiological needs. We investigated the actual conditions of a SUT. METHODS: We analyzed 800 cases of SUTs performed at a tertiary care university hospital between March 2006 March and February 2007. The subjects of the study were divided into a surgical group (n=561) and medical group (n=239) for the purpose of RBC unit usage and were analyzed by groups and ordering departments, with an analysis of the pre and post-transfusion hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit values. The distribution according to the pre and post-transfusion hemoglobin ranges were calculated. RESULTS: The mean hemoglobin concentration increment of the surgical group was significantly lower than that of the medical group (P<0.0001) and the mean pre and post-transfusion hemoglobin concentrations of the medical group were lower than that of the surgical group (P<0.0001). Approximately 26% cases of the SUTs performed in the surgical group were appropriate, based on a post-transfusion hemoglobin concentration below 10 g/dL. In the medical group, about 75% of the SUTs were appropriate based on a pre-transfusion hemoglobin concentration below 9 g/dL. CONCLUSION: Most transfusions are decided based on various clinical situations and opinions of the clinicians. Therefore, continuous evaluation of the appropriateness of transfusion is necessary. In our study, the appropriateness of a SUT was estimated indirectly based on the pre and post-transfusion hemoglobin concentration. Consequently, policies and strategies for performing asingle unit RBC transfusion are required.
Hematocrit ; Tertiary Healthcare

OBJECTIVES: To determine the statistical agreement between hematocrit and platelet counts obtained via peripheral venous catheters and venous puncture. It also aims to compare the success rate of obtaining samples via PVC and the hemolysis rate between different gauges of IV catheter. DESIGN: Prospective Cross-sectional Study. PARTICIPANTS: Clinically stable patients admitted for dengue aged 1 to 18 years old and are eligible to be enrolled in the study. Twenty-two patients were enrolled and completed the study. INTERVENTION: Paired samples of venous blood collection using venipuncture and PVC on the contralateral arm was done during daily serial CBC monitoring. Hematocrit and platelet values between the two methods were analyzed using Bland-Altman Analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Statistical agreement of platelet and hematocrit levels obtained using PVC and Venipuncture. RESULTS: We had 22 patients and a total of 67 paired samples. Out of the 67 samples submitted, two samples each from PVC (2.9%) and venipuncture (2.9%) were clotted. There was100% success rate in both methods at the first attempt of collection. None on the samples had hemolysis. On the average, hematocrit measurements from venipuncture are increased by 1.17 (units) compared to PVC, while platelet measurements from PVC are increased by 4.83 (units) compared to venipuncture. There is no significant difference in both platelet count and hematocrit between the two methods, demonstrating agreement between the two methods. CONCLUSIONS There is statistical agreement between samples drawn from PVC and venipuncture in terms of hematocrit and platelet counts in dengue pediatric patients. Success rate and hemolysis rates between the two methods are the same. PVC is an acceptable alternative to venipuncture.
Hematocrit ; Platelet Count

Background: Studies comparing hematocrit values, disease severity, and discharge status between well-nourished and undernourished pediatric dengue patients are limited. Objective: This study compared the mean hematocrit values, disease severity and discharge status of undernourished vs. well-nourished pediatric dengue patients admitted in a tertiary government hospital. Methodology: A retrospective cohort study involving 114 pediatric dengue patients, with comparison groups of well-nourished and undernourished children matched according to age, phase of illness and sex was done. Main outcomes measured were mean hematocrit values, disease severity and discharge status. Results: There was a significantly lower mean pre-resuscitation hematocrit in the wasted (M=39.67%, SD=3.78) compared to the well-nourished group (M=43.68%, SD=4.72), p=0.006, among children >6 to 12 years old in the febrile phase. There were no significant differences in disease severity and discharge status between wasted and well-nourished children. In those >2 to 6 years old in the febrile phase, the severely wasted had significantly higher pre-resuscitation hematocrit (M=43.28%, SD=4.77) compared to well-nourished children (M=39.11%, SD=5.34), p=0.041. More severe dengue, worse discharge status and an earlier time to demise was seen among severely wasted children. Conclusion Wasted participants had significantly lower mean hematocrit values with no difference in diseaseseverity and discharge status when compared to well-nourished participants. Severely wasted children had significantly higher hematocrit values, severe dengue, and worse discharge status.
Dengue ; Malnutrition ; Hematocrit

BACKGROUND: In diabetic patients, both glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentrations are frequently measured to monitor glycemic control. We examined the analytical performance of the recently developed, automated, ADAMS bridge system (Arkray, Inc., Japan) consisting of the ADAMS glucose GA-1171 and the ADAMS HbA1c HA-8180 analyzers, which allows the consecutive measurement of glucose and HbA1c concentrations. METHODS: We evaluated precision, linearity, carry-over, effects of hematocrit, and turnaround time. Method comparison was conducted between GA-1171 and UniCel DxC 800 (Beckman Coulter, Inc., USA) and Synchron CX3 Delta (Beckman Coulter) for glucose, and between HA-8180 and HLC-723 G8 (Tosoh Bioscience, Inc., Japan) for HbA1c measurements. RESULTS: Total precision (% CV) in measuring high and low level controls was 1.11% and 1.21% for glucose using GA-1171, and 0.86% and 1.3% for HbA1c using HA-8180, respectively. In the linearity test, R2 was 0.9997, 0.9991 and 0.9973 when measuring plasma glucose (58-532 mg/dL), whole blood glucose (74-401 mg/dL), and HbA1c concentrations (4.7-14.7%), respectively. Good correlation was observed between GA-1171 and DxC 800 (r=0.9987), and between HA-8180 and HLC-723 G8 (r=0.9980). Carry-over effect was less than 0.5% for glucose and HbA1c. Turnaround time was reduced from 7 min (CX3 Delta) and 1.43 min (HLC-723 G8) to 2.16 min (GA-1171) and 1.54 min (HA-8180), respectively, when whole blood glucose and HbA1c concentrations were measured consecutively by the ADAMS bridge system. CONCLUSIONS: The ADAMS bridge system had a simple operating procedure and showed an adequate performance and a rapid turnaround time.
Blood Glucose ; Glucose* ; Hematocrit ; Humans

BACKGREOUND: Several formulas for estimating allowable pre-transfusion blood loss were used to reduce unnecessary intraoperative blood replacement. The postoperative predicted hematocrit computed by formula was compared with the actual hematocrit and was tested which formula was more accurate in spine surgery. METHOD: Total blood volume was estimated in spine surgery of 34 patients. The target hematocrit (Hct) was suggested on 30% and the allowable blood loss was computed using the formula 1 and 2. For each patients, simultaneous measurement of blood loss and Hct was obtained at the end of operation. The postoperative predicted Hct by the formula 1 and 2 was calculated and compared with the actual Hct, and the difference between the formula 1 and 2 was evaluated. Allowable blood loss=Estimated blood volume (Initial Hct Target Hct)/Initial Hct ... Formula (1) Allowable blood loss=Estimated blood volume (Initial Hct Target Hct)/Average Hct ... Formula (2) RESULTS: 1) The preoperative Hct was 40.7 3.9%. The postoperative predicted Hct by the formula 1 and 2 were 34.3 4.6 and 34.9 4.3% respectively. The postoperative actual Hct was 30.1 4.6%.2) The difference between the predicted Hct by the formula 1 and the actual Hct was 4.2% (P<0.05). The difference between the predicted Hct by the formula 2 and the actual Hct was 4.8% (P<0.05). The difference between the predicted Hct by the formula 1 and 2 was 0.6% (P<0.05). It was thought that the predicted Hct by the formula 1 was more closer to the actual Hct. CONCLUSIONS: The predicted Hct by both formulas is underestimated when the results compare with the actual Hct. But the predicted Hct by the formula 1 provides a closer results to the actual Hct than the predicted Hct by the formula 2.
Blood Volume ; Hematocrit* ; Humans ; Spine

No abstract available.
Hematocrit ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care testing (POCT) glucometers are widely used for the management of diabetic patients. We evaluated the analytical performance of the recently developed glucometer CareSens PRO (i-SENS Inc., Korea). METHODS: Linearity, precision, and correlation were evaluated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Five levels of glucose obtained from patient samples were used to determine the linearity of the device response. Control materials with low, medium, and high levels of glucose were evaluated with two different CareSens PRO glucometers to determine their precision. Correlations were evaluated between venous plasma analyzed with Synchron CX3 Delta (Beckman Coulter Inc., USA) and capillary whole blood analyzed with CareSens PRO, and between venous whole blood analyzed with ADAMS GA-1171 (Arkray, Inc., Japan) and venous whole blood analyzed with CareSens PRO, respectively. The effect of hematocrit was assessed. RESULTS: The linearity in the glucose range of 25.5 to 535.0 mg/dL was R2=0.9988. The coefficients of variations (CVs) of within-run precision were 2.06 to 3.47% and the CVs of total precision were 2.99 to 5.38%. The correlations were as follows: r=0.9660 in the range of 68.0 to 404.0 mg/dL with Synchron CX3 Delta and r=0.9886 in the range of 20.5 to 511.0 mg/dL with ADAMS GA-1171. In the specimens containing glucose above 75 mg/dL, 91.2% and 98.9% of CareSens PRO results were within +/- 20% of the results by Synchron CX3 Delta and ADAMS GA-1171, respectively. Hematocrit influenced the glucose concentration. CONCLUSIONS: CareSens PRO displayed acceptable linearity and precision. For clinical application, it is necessary for the improvement of comparable analytical performance and careful interpretation according to hematocrit concentration.
Capillaries ; Glucose ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Plasma

BACKGROUND: Cord blood has been established as an alternative source of hematopoietic reconstituting cells for allogeneic transplantation. CHA cord blood bank, I-CORD has been followed the 'Rubinstein method', which is manual method for collecting mononuclear cells (MNCs). The problem of these manual methods are the risk of bacterial contamination and poor reliability. Recently, an automated method running on the Sepax(R) system (Biosafe S.A., Eysins, Switzerland) has been developed and we compared the results of automated system and manual technique. METHODS: For the total 40 cord blood donations to CHA cord blood bank I-CORD, we processed with manual method using Rubinstein protocol or automated method using "Sepax(R)" (Biosafe S.A.). The recovery rate of total leukocytes and mononuclear cells and hematocrit ratio were compared after processing. RESULTS: The mean ratio of hematocrit after/before processing was significantly lower in samples processed by using manual method (0.96+/-0.42) than "Sepax(R)" (1.4+/-0.4). The WBC recoveries were comparable between two groups (82.8+/-12.8% with manual method and 83.9+/-8.9% with "Sepax(R)"). The recoveries of mononuclear cells were more efficient in samples processed by "Sepax(R)" (100.8+/-31.8%) than those by manual method (74.2+/-13.8%). CONCLUSION: The automated technique using "Sepax(R)" achieved a comparable recovery rate to conventional manual method and has advantages because these systems are more standardized and closed system. The processing effectiveness could be improved through more practices.
Fetal Blood* ; Hematocrit ; Leukocytes ; Running ; Transplantation, Homologous