Abstract

Objective: Point of care devices are fast and easy to use but their true potential is still waiting to come up. TensorTip MTX is a non-invasive medical device can measure various bioparameters, including hemoglobin. Purpose of this study is to measure the correlation between TensorTip MTX and our routine laboratuvary analysis of hemoglobin and to see that device is useable in emergency department settings for situations like gastroinstestinal bleeding and acute traumatic hemorrhages.

Methods: In the month after the ethical board approval, we conduct our study in 147 patients. Their hemoglobin levels were already measured while their course of emergency department visit. To gather accurate data of hemoglobin measurement of TensorTip MTX, device put on the ring finger of the patients and wait at least 45 seconds for measurement. All measurement documented and recorded by researcher. Measurements from blood samples and TensorTip MTX device are compared with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results: In 147 patients; 61.2% (n=90) were male, 38.8% (n=57) were female and ages are between 18 and 89. Mean age is 55.72±20.30 years; 23.1% (n=34) of them is under 35 years old, 76.9% (n=113) over 35 years. Statistically, the correlation between hemoglobin levels measured by the reference method and TensorTip was found to be 42.4%, which is statistically signficant (p=0.001; p<0.01) [ICC: 0.424; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.281-0.548]. Correlation between hematocrit level measurements is 46.9% significantly compatible (p=0.001; p<0.01) (ICC: 0.429; 95% CI: 0.333-0.586).

Conclusion: Our study showed that correlation between reference measurement and TensorTip MTX device is fair (ICC: 0.424 for hemoglobin and 0.429 for hematocrit). Further studies needed to determine that this device is suitable or not to identify the need of blood transfusion and management of patients with acute hemorrhages in the emergency settings for now.