Evaluation of four rapid methods for hemoglobin screening of whole blood donors in mobile collection settings.

Introduction: Predonation hemoglobin measurement is a problematic requirement in mobile donation settings, where accurate determination of venous hemoglobin by hematology analyzers is not available.

Objective: We have evaluated hemoglobin screening in prospective donors by the semiquantitative copper sulphate test and by capillary blood samples analyzed by three portable photometers, HemoCue, STAT-Site MHgb, and the CompoLab HB system.

Methods: Capillary blood samples were obtained from 380 donors and tested by the copper sulphate test and by at least one of the named portable photometers.