Objective. To evaluate copper sulphate densitometry to screen for childhood anaemia in a primary care setting, with a view to identifying children requiring definitive diagnostic testing and treatment.
Design. A cross-sectional screening study. Results of densitometry with a copper sulphate solution of specific gravity (SG) 1.048, corresponding to a haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of 10 g/dl, were compared with laboratory Hb determination.
Setting. Outpatient department of Pretoria Academic Hospital (73 children) and a local cr_che (27 children).
Subjects. One hundred consecutive children, aged between 6 months and 6 years, with informed written consent by parents.
Outcome measure(s). Accuracy of copper sulphate densitometry in screening for Hb concentration below 10 g/dl in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, as well as likelihood ratio.
Results. The prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 10 g/dl) was 17% (95% confidence interval (CI) 10.2; 25.8). Copper sulphate densitometry had a sensitivity of 88.2% (95% CI 62.3; 97.9), a specificity of 89.2% (95% CI 79.9; 94.6), a positive predictive value of 62.5% (95% CI 40.8; 80.5) and a negative predictive value of 97.4% (95%CI 90.0; 99.5) in screening for anaemia. The likelihood ratio of a positive screening test was 8.17.
Conclusions. Copper sulphate densitometry was accurate in screening for childhood anaemia.
(South African Medical Journal: 2002 92(12): 978-981
