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Research Article

A validated method for the determination of hematocrit in dried blood spots using image analysis

    Miguel Gambell Barroso

    Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratory, C1:68, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 141 86, Sweden

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    ,
    Louise Gustafsson

    Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratory, C1:68, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 141 86, Sweden

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    ,
    Victoria Barclay

    Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratory, C1:68, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 141 86, Sweden

    Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

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    &
    Camilla Linder

    *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +46 724 583 856;

    E-mail Address: camilla.linder@regionstockholm.se

    Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratory, C1:68, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 141 86, Sweden

    Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

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    Published Online:24 Mar 2023https://doi.org/10.4155/bio-2023-0018

    Abstract

    Aim: To develop a nondestructive method for the estimation of hematocrit (HCT) in dried blood spots (DBSs). Materials & methods: Standards and controls were created (HCT range: 0.20–0.50 l/l) and DBS scanned using a flatbed scanner. Gray values and pixel areas were analyzed with open-source software to estimate HCT and volume, respectively. HCT obtained in whole blood using hematological analyzer was compared with DBS scanner method (n = 50). Results: Between-run precision was 4.7–10.2% and between-run accuracy was 89.6–102.1%. In the hematological instrument comparison, 96% of the patient sample results were within ±15%. Conclusion: The nondestructive method can be used to exclude patient DBS samples with extreme HCT levels from further analysis and avoid bias on measured concentration.

    Graphical abstract

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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