Accuracy of the WHO Haemoglobin Colour Scale for the Diagnosis of Anaemia in Primary Health Care Settings on Low-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Haemoglobin Colour Scale serves as an affordable, quantitative tool for diagnosing anemia as an alternative to clinical methods. This systematic review of the Haemoglobin Colour Scale suggests that it is more sensitive and specific for diagnosing both anemia and severe anemia than clinical diagnosis. The authors note that combining the two methods could result in an even higher sensitivity, although at a reduced rate of specificity, and suggest future research on training, clinical outcomes, and cost.