Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Conventional hemoglobin assessment typically relies on venous sampling methods, which may cause discomfort and limit testing frequency. Point-of-care (POC) digital hemoglobinometers are rapidly gaining popularity for hemoglobin measurement due to their ability to deliver immediate results, require minimal setup and no specialized infrastructure. Many digital hemoglobinometers are now available in the market, but their cost and accuracy has not been systematically assessed. This study systematically evaluates the diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of digital hemoglobinometers.
METHODS: Using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach (as per PRISMA), the diagnostic accuracy of digital hemoglobinometers (pooled estimates) was expressed in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Cost of device, every input consumed in the detection of hemoglobin and the cost of each resource item was calculated. A decision tree model was constructed for the calculation of corrected and missed diagnoses. The incremental cost per additional correct diagnosis of digital hemoglobinometers was calculated to compare the digital hemoglobinometers in terms of ICER.
RESULTS: Overall, minimally invasive digital hemoglobinometers perform superior to non-invasive ones. Based on the subgroup setting-wise analysis, for community settings, a non-invasive device is showing good performance compared to current invasive devices in use. For Pregnant women: Invasive devices show better performance in Hb detection.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this HTA study show promising results in terms of cost and diagnostic accuracy of digital hemoglobinometers for screening anemia in community settings. However, as most studies included in this HTA evaluated digital hemoglobinometers primarily in mild to moderate anemia, their diagnostic performance in severe anemia remains uncertain and should be specifically assessed in future field studies.