RESUMEN
Purpose: Anemia is common in adolescent girls. Apprehension while drawing blood to estimate hemoglobin concentration is a barrier for confirming anemia. ToucHb, a noninvasive instrument that estimates the hemoglobin by taking an image of the exposed conjunctiva, was used during eye screening to help diagnose and treat anemia. Methods: ToucHb was used during secondary school eye screening and during house?to?house eye screening to estimate the hemoglobin concentration in the body. Each of the girls was distributed a packet of 60 tablets of ferrous and folate and a tablet of albendazole. They were followed up after 3 months. Results: Exactly 1511 municipal school girls aged 10?19 years (mean 12.9; standard deviation [SD] 1.64) were examined. Of them, 949 (62.8%) had hemoglobin of ?9 mg%. Among those girls with hemoglobin ?9 mg%, the mean (SD) during the initial and follow?up examinations was 6.1 (1.4) and 9.6 (1.03), respectively, by paired t?test (P < 0.001). Another 588 girls (average age 14.4 years, SD 1.2) had their eyes examined and hemoglobin estimated during a house?to?house eye screening. Of them, 116 (19.7%) had hemoglobin level of ?9 mg%. Their pre?Hb was 7.9 (SD 1.05) on average and after 3 months, it was 9.6 (SD 1.02). Among those girls with hemoglobin ?9 mg%, the mean (SD) during the initial and follow?up examinations was 6.2 (1.4) and 7.9 (1.1), respectively, by paired t?test (P < 0.001). Conclusion: ToucHb was useful to diagnose anemia while doing eye screening and to ensure its treatment. Anemia diagnosis and management would enhance the health of adolescent girls.
RESUMEN
Introduction: Red blood cells (RBCs) were observed under microscope by Jan Swammerdam in 1658. The RBC count was done in 1852 by Professor Karl Vierordt from Germany for the first time almost after 192 years. After this, the other scientists have also done RBC count with different methods. Hayem used a new diluting fluid (Hayem‖s diluting fluid) for RBC count which is used even today. The present methods have many errors mainly due to sampling, diluting, and pipetting. Materials and methods: In this study, the modified method of RBC counting has been shown. The RBC counting was done using hemoglobinometer pipette and modified diluting fluid - Hayem‖s fluid mixed with Leishman‖s stain (HFLS) RBC diluting fluid - in the ratio of 97.5 mL of Hayem‖s RBC diluting fluid and 2.5 mL of Leishman‖s stain to make 100 mL. Amber colored glass bottle top dispenser was used to dispense 2 and 4 mL of diluting fluid into the glass test tubes .With aseptic precautions, 10 and 20 μL of blood samples were collected by using the hemoglobinometer pipette (marked with black marker pen to get accurate measurement for 10 μL) from finger prick with sterile needle. The blood samples were added to the glass test tubes containing HFLS RBC diluting fluid and mixing was done with a glass stirrer. With the help of glass capillary tube, Neubauer chambers were charged and observed under microscope. Results: Red blood cells were seen better. The RBCs retained their shape and size even after 96 hours when the blood samples mixed with HFLS RBC diluting fluid were kept at room temperature. Conclusion: Red blood cells were seen better with this method and diluting and charging errors were minimized.