Hemoglobin determination in plasma or serum by first-derivative recording spectrophotometry. Evaluation of the procedure of Soloni, Cunningham, and Amazon.

The authors tested the plasma hemoglobin measurement procedure of Soloni, Cunningham, and Amazon (Am J Clin Pathol 1986;85:342-347), which uses recording derivative spectrophotometry. By this technique, the authors were able to measure plasma or serum hemoglobin down to a level of 10 mg/L (1 mg/dL). The method was found to be quantitative and not affected by bilirubin or lipemia. Methemoglobin did not interfere with the assay. The observed first derivative maxima and minima were reproducible but instrument dependent. The authors applied this technique to the measurement of serum hemoglobin in 100 healthy human subjects. They observed a geometric mean value of 68 mg/L (6.8 mg/dL) with the actual range 21-189 mg/L (2.1-18.9 mg/dL). The authors confirm that this technique is a simple, rapid, and reproducible method for determining plasma or serum hemoglobin.