The Haemoglobin Concentration of Normal English Males and Females

Abstract

The determination of the mean normal haemoglobin concentration has re ceived more attention in America than in this country. Recently Price-Jones (1931) has compared the values in London with those found in America. He used the Haldane haemoglobinometer and his results are as accurate as is possible having regard to the method employed. In America his results were 3 percent. above those of the Haldane gas analysis apparatus (1901) by which theclinical instrument is supposed to be calibrated. Twenty comparisons were made in America and showed that the Haldane gas apparatus gave results averaging 2·6 per cent. below those of the Van Slyke apparatus. Price-Jones considers this to have no statistical significance. From the standpoint of experimental accuracy the difference is appreciable, as all methods for the measurement of oxygen combined with Hb are essentially pragmatic.