Determining the Role of Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Testing in the Resuscitation of Acutely Hemorrhaging Patients

Point-of-care hemoglobin (Hb) testing has not been evaluated in the resuscitation of acutely hemorrhaging patients to guide transfusion therapy. This study assessed the correlation of Hb values determined by point-of-care (EPOC) and traditional laboratory (CBC) methods in patients undergoing massive transfusion. All patients transfused per the massive transfusion protocol (MTP) between February 2013 and October 2017 were identified. The EPOC result was most often within 1 g/dL of the CBC result when EPOC resulted in a Hb between 7-10 g/dL and when drawn within 15 minutes of the CBC specimen. In patients on MTP with an EPOC Hb between 7-10 g/dL, intensivists should feel comfortable making decisions related to transfusion therapy without waiting for the CBC result