Accuracy of methemoglobin measurements: comparison of six different commercial devices and one manual method.

OBJECTIVE

During nitric oxide inhalation, methemoglobinemia needs to be monitored. We compared six commercially available instruments and one manual method for methemoglobin measurements. In addition, we studied whether and to what degree methylene blue interferes with methemoglobin measurements.

DESIGN

In vitro methodologic study.

SETTING

Research laboratory in a university hospital.

PATIENTS

Five healthy volunteers from whom red blood cells were obtained.

INTERVENTIONS

Methemoglobinemia was generated in a red blood cell suspension by nitric oxide; methemoglobin was measured with six commercial instruments and one manual photometric method to calculate variation coefficients and to determine the differences between the devices. Methemoglobin was measured with and without the addition of methylene blue with two instruments. Measurements were performed immediately after the addition of methylene blue.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

All six commercially available instruments had variation coefficients of <0.1 at methemoglobin concentrations of 5%, whereas the manual photometric method did not reach a variation coefficient of <0.1 at 8% of methemoglobin. Apart from two devices that measured slightly but significantly higher methemoglobin levels, all instruments measured similar values of methemoglobin when the same samples were determined simultaneously. Higher concentrations of methylene blue (10, 40, 100 microM) reduced substantially the apparent concentrations of methemoglobin. Interference by methylene blue was most pronounced at low methemoglobin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

With some limitations, all commercial instruments that were tested performed adequately for the monitoring of methemoglobinemia. Methylene blue interferes with the methemoglobin measurements in a dose-dependent manner.