Comparison of Hemoglobin Measurement Tools and Hemoglobin Levels at the East Kalimantan Ministry of Health Polytechnic

Abstract

This study compares the results of hemoglobin level measurements using a photometer and a hematology analyzer. Hemoglobin measurement is an important indicator for evaluating health status. Both work on different principles. The photometer measures light absorption in blood samples that have been reacted with Drabkin's solution. Meanwhile, the hematology analyzer combines the principles of electrical impedance, flow cytometry, and photometry to analyze blood parameters. This study used an observational comparative diagnostic test design. A total of 42 blood samples with EDTA anticoagulant were analyzed using both devices. Data were tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test, tested for homogeneity, and tested for differences using an unpaired t-test. The results showed a significant difference between the two methods. The average hemoglobin level using the photometer was 13.3 g/dl, while using the hematology analyzer was 12.9 g/dl. The data normality test showed a normal distribution for both devices (p=0.445 for the photometer and p=0.052 for the hematology analyzer). The data variance was also homogeneous. The results of the unpaired t-test showed a p-value < 0.001, which confirmed the existence of a statistically significant difference.