Impact of Various Laboratory Techniques Upon Accuracy of Hemoglobin Measurement

Introduction: Hemoglobin is one of the most important biological substances in the body, as it is the primary carrier of oxygen to the body's cells. Without this essential element, cells cannot receive oxygen, nor can they remove carbon dioxide. Hemoglobin has many types, one of which is normal, and many diseases are related to the synthesis and types of hemoglobin. These diseases are called anemia, and there are many types of anemia depending on the abnormal type of hemoglobin. The ideal way to diagnose such diseases is by measuring the hemoglobin concentration in the blood. Over the past decades, various methods have been used to measure hemoglobin, ranging from primitive and classical techniques to more accurate and advanced methods used today. In this study, we measured hemoglobin in several individuals using different methods. To compare hemoglobin concentration measured by two different methods (Sahly's method and spectrometry) and identify significant differences, if any. Methodology: We measured hemoglobin using two different methods: the first being an old classical method (sahly method), and the second being a modern and advanced method (spectrophotometric method). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the old methods used by laboratories in previous decades and compare their results with those obtained using advanced techniques. Results: The study discovered that the spectrophotometric approach consistently yielded elevated hemoglobin levels in comparison to the Sahly method. In general, the difference was statistically significant (P > 0.05), however the significance levels varied dependent on age and gender (P > 0.05). The findings indicate that the Sahly approach may undervalue hemoglobin concentrations, particularly in older individuals and males. These results suggest that spectrophotometric measurement is a more dependable technique for quantifying hemoglobin. Conclusion: The results indicate a significant disparity between the Sahly and spectrophotometric procedures for measuring hemoglobin. The Sahly technique consistently gives results that are too low, while the spectrophotometric method is more accurate and precise. This illustrates the need of considering age- and gender-specific physiological variations and employing contemporary, objective methodologies for precise clinical diagnosis.