Hemoglobin and hematocrit: an analysis of clinical accuracy. Case study of the anemic patient.

Hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct) are often used interchangeably to evaluate anemia in dialysis patients. Hgb is the preferred method in most European countries, while Hct is generally used by clinicians in the United States. This article examines the comparative accuracy of these two values, including a same-patient assessment of laboratory samples. These data illustrate that Hgb is a more accurate method of assessing anemia. Using Hgb may help nurses and patients by: (a) decreasing variability in laboratory assessment, (b) avoiding ongoing errors in anemia measurement, (c) decreasing the nursing time spent on anemia management, and (d) increasing the potential for patients remaining in the recommended DOQI target Hgb range of 11 g/dL to 12 g/dL.