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A hemoglobinometer is a laboratory instrument used to analyze the hemoglobin content of blood, which is responsible for transporting oxygen and maintaining red blood cells. It is now included in complete blood count tests, but portable versions are used in clinics and hospitals for quick results. It is especially useful for neonates and pediatric patients.
A hemoglobinometer, also known as an Hb-meter, is a laboratory instrument used to analyze the hemoglobin content of the blood. Hemoglobin is a major component of red blood cells (RBCs). It is a protein responsible for transporting oxygen to different parts of the body and carbon dioxide for excretion from the lungs. This protein is also responsible for maintaining red blood cells in their normal disk shape. The hemoglobinometer is usually used by trained personnel in the laboratory.
In the past, a separate hemoglobinometer was often used in the laboratory to take hemoglobin readings. With the advent of blood counting machines, the hemoglobin level, as well as the number of red blood cells and white blood cells (WBC) are generally included in the complete blood count (CBC) test. Blood counts are often performed on patients with anemia, infections, and other illnesses. Anemia is a condition in which there is a decrease in red blood cells in the circulation. This test is often done by drawing blood from a vein in the arm, mixing the sample with the reagents, and reading the results produced by the machine.
There are also smaller, more portable hemoglobinometers that doctors can use in their clinics. They often use one of these when the need arises and while the patient waits. Depending on the test result, doctors may request further tests or proceed with treatment. This is especially common in obstetrician-gynecologist clinics because women are prone to developing anemia due to menstruation, pregnancy and other reproductive problems. Obstetricians are doctors who treat pregnant women and gynecologists are those who deal with women’s reproductive health problems.
In neonates and pediatric patients, particularly those born prematurely, the use of the portable hemoglobinometer is often convenient. This medical tool can be taken to the hospital nursery where babies can be tested even while they are in the incubator. The amount of blood sample needed is also very small, thus preventing the occurrence of anemia caused by frequent blood monitoring.
Using the portable hemoglobin analyzer, the blood sample to be used can be taken from the vein, artery, or capillary. The puncture site, such as the finger, is usually cleaned with rubbing alcohol before the sample is inserted into the hemoglobinometer for reading. Within a few seconds, the hemoglobin reading appears on the hemoglobinometer display screen. This tool is also considered useful in emergency situations due to its ease of use, accuracy and speed of delivery of results.
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