Linear equation method for Hematocrit monitoring by optical transmittance

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to investigate an optical transmittance system for prediction of hematocrit level by linear equation from the wavelength in the range of 426 nm to 950 nm. We constructed a simplified system with a light detecting finger clip probe to determine the transmittance spectra. We compared the results from our simplified measurement system with the hematocrit levels measured with the centrifuge using blood sample drawn from patients. From the analysis, we discovered that wavelengths between 525 nm to 610 nm, and between 700 to 950 nm are potential optimal choices for use to predict the hematocrit value. Then, four LEDs (525 nm, 585 nm, 875, and 950 nm) were used as the source which shone light through a finger, while the photodiode was placed at the opposite side of the finger for light transmission detection. We calibrated our system with the 117 sample hematocrit levels measured clinically by the centrifuge to obtain the linear equation model. We compared the results of our linear equation model for predicting the hematocrit levels with measured hematocrit levels from the centrifuge. From our analysis, the error obtained from the linear equation was less than 25% in more than 90% of the 117 collected data from patients.