This study is comparing the method used by NHSBT with three promising and newer approaches:
- a version of the “HemoCue” test that requires only a blood drop from a finger prick
- a non-invasive light-shining device (“spectrometer”) placed over a finger for about one minute, which avoids taking a blood sample altogether
- a method that involves predicting current haemoglobin levels from venous blood tested at the previous donation visit, using a “gold standard haematology analyser”.