Clinical Evidence

ATR Pinpoints Dysfunction for Better Resuscitation in Sepsis and COVID:

Endothelial Dysfunction in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis and COVID-19 Using the Albumin Transudation Rate: A Pilot Study

Ricardo Castro, Ashish K. Khanna, Martin Schreiber, Jan Bakker
Journal of Critical Care
Volume 91, February 2026

RBC Profiles Essential for HF Patient Survival:

Relationship of red blood cell mass profiles and anemia type to outcomes and cardiopulmonary exercise performance in chronic heart failure

Veraprapas Kittipibul MD, Alexandra Novelli MD, Dmitry Yaranov MD, Ashley Swavely MS, Leonardo F. Ferreira PhD, Jeroen Molinger MS, John L. Jefferies MD, MPH, Wayne L. Miller MD, PhD, Marat Fudim MD, MHS
American Heart Journal
Volume 288, October 2025, Pages 131-13

Treating Hypervolemia & Polycythemia in Advanced HF:

Identification and Treatment of Hypervolemia and Polycythemia in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure: Role of Therapeutic Phlebotomy

Mousab Al Abbas, Smitha Sagaram, and Marc A. Silver
JACC Journals Case Reports, Vol. 30 No. 5, Feb. 2025

Optimizing Treatment with BVA in Cardiorenal Syndrome:

Blood Volume Analysis and Cardiorenal Syndrome: From Bench to Bedside

John Lynn Jefferies, Cynthia Ann Stavish, Marc A Silver, Javed Butler, Harvey David Humes , John Strobeck
Cardiorenal Med., July 2024; 14(1): 483-497

BVA Clarifies Uncertain Outcomes in Ambulatory Heart Failure:

Prognostic Implications of Volume Status Assessed by Blood Volume Analysis in Ambulatory Heart Failure

Veraprapas Kittipibul MD, Dmitry M. Yaranov MD, Jan Biegus MD, James Matthew Gray MS, Jeroen Molinger MS, Marc A. Silver MD, Marat Fudim MD, MHS
American Heart Journal
Volume 271, May 2024, Pages 178-181

Significantly Improved Outcomes in Hospitalized Heart Failure:

Heart Failure Outcomes with Volume-Guided Management.

John E. Strobeck, Jonathan Feldschuh and Wayne Miller
JACC: Heart Failure
Volume 6, Issue 11, November 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.jchf.2018.06.017

Extremely Cost-Effective Improvement in Patient Life Span in Hospitalized Heart Failure:

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Early Blood Volume-Guided Management in Hospitalized Heart Failure.

John E. Strobeck, Jonathan Feldschuh, Brent A. Williams and Wayne L. Miller
Presented at HFSA 2020 Virtual Conference

Lower ICU Mortality:

A prospective randomized trial using blood volume analysis in addition to pulmonary artery catheter, compared with pulmonary artery catheter alone, to guide shock resuscitation in critically ill surgical patients.

Yu M, Pei K, Moran S, Edwards KD, Domingo S, Steinemann S, Ghows M, Takiguchi S, Tan A, Lurie F, Takanishi D Jr.
Shock. 2011 Mar;35(3):220-8. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0b013e3181fc9178.

Blood Volume Heterogeneity in Syncope:

Blood volume measurement as a tool in diagnosing syncope.

Fouad-Tarazi F1, Calcatti J, Christian R, Armstrong R, Depaul M.
Am J Med Sci. 2007 Jul;334(1):53-6.

Quantifying Surgical Blood Loss:

Measurement of Blood Loss in Cardiac Surgery: Still Too Much.

Nelson M, Green J, Spiess B, Kasirajan V, Nicolato P, Liu H, Meshkin RS
Ann Thorac Surg. 2018 Apr;105(4):1176-1181. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2017.11.023. Epub 2018 Mar 3

Understanding the Heterogeneity in Volume Overload:

Understanding the Heterogeneity in Volume Overload and Fluid Distribution in Decompensated Heart Failure Is Key to Optimal Volume Management

Wayne L. Miller and Brian P. Mullen
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Vol. 2, No.3, June 2014

Cardiology

Pressures Do Not Equal Volumes: Implications for Heart Failure Management in Patients with CardioMEMS 

In Search of Euvolemia in Heart Failure

Anemic Patients with HFNEF Have a Reduced Red Cell Volume, True Anemia and Concomitant Plasma Volume Expansion

Blood Volume Analysis Coupled with Ultrafiltration in the Management of Congestive Heart Failure Guided Therapy to Achieve Euvolemia

Blood Volume and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Congestive Heart Failure: A Pilot Study

Blood Volume Assessment in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure

Blood Volume Measurements in Patients With Heart Failure and a Preserved Ejection Fraction: Implications for Diagnosing Anemia

Circulating Blood Volume Measurements Correlate Poorly with Pulmonary Artery Catheter Measurements

Comparison of Blood Volume Characteristics in Anemic Patients With Low Versus Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fractions

Early Versus Late Postural Tachycardia: A Re-evaluation of a Syndrome

Effect of Erythropoietin on Exercise Capacity in Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Heart Failure

Hemodilution is Common in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure

The Importance of Correct Norms in Blood Volume Measurement

Measurement of Blood Volume at Bedside: New Era in Critical Care Medicine

Plasma Catecholamines and Blood Volume in Native Andeans During Hypoxia and Normoxia

Plasma Volume and Outcome in Pulmonary Hypertension

Postural Pseudoanemia: Posture-Dependent Change in Hematocrit

Relation of Unrecognized Hypervolemia in Chronic Heart Failure to Clinical Status, Hemodynamics, and Patient Outcomes

Researchers Probe Anemia Heart Failure Link

Techniques Used for the Determination of Blood Volume

Treatment of Anemia in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Unrecognized Volume Overload in Congestive Heart Failure

A Word Salad in the Treatment of CHF: BVA, ICG, BNP

Nuclear Medicine

Blood Volume Analysis: A New Technique and New Clinical Interest Reinvigorate a Classic Study

Blood Volume Determination, A Nuclear Medicine Test in Evolution

Comparison of Red Cell and Whole Blood Volume as Performed Using Both Chromium-51-Tagged Red Cells and Iodine-125-Tagged Albumin and Using I-131-Tagged Albumin and Extrapolated Red Cell Volume

Hypertension and Syncope

Correlation of Quantitated Intravascular Volume with Blood Pressure in Patients with Systemic Hypertension

Blood Volume Measurement as a Tool in Diagnosing Syncope

Blood Volume Measurements in Hypertensive Disease

Renin-Aldosterone Paradox and Perturbed Blood Volume Regulation Underlying Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

Intensive and Critical Care Medicine

The Availability of Circulating Blood Volume Values Alters Fluid Management in Critically Ill Surgical Patients

Blood Volume Analysis Can Distinguish True Anemia from Hemodilution in Critically Ill Patients

Blood Volume Measurements: Impact on Fluid Management

Correlation of Blood Volume Values and Pulmonary Artery Catheter Measurements

A Prospective Randomized Trial Using Blood Volume Analysis in Addition to Pulmonary Artery Catheter, Compared with Pulmonary Artery Catheter Alone, to Guide Shock Resuscitation in Critically Ill Surgical Patients

Would Hypovolemia Be an Advantage or Disadvantage in the Management of Critically Ill Patients with Septic Shock?

Would the Blood Volume Analyzer (BVA-100) Be an Alternative to Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PAC) in Critically Ill Patients (abstract)

Surgery and Anesthesiology

Peripheral Blood Hematocrit in Critically Ill Surgical Patients: An Imprecise Surrogate of True Red Blood Cell Volume

Measurement of Blood Volume Benefits Critically Ill Patients

Preoperative Blood Volume Deficit Influences Blood Transfusion Requirement in Females and Males Undergoing Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Blood Volume Status in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Relation to Complaints

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2025: A Multi-Tiered Approach to Reducing the Incidence of Renal Replacement Therapy in the Advanced Heart Failure Population Undergoing LVAD Implantation

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2025: Blood Volume Analysis May Guide Treatment in Cardiac Amyloidosis Adding Information About Total Blood Volume and Plasma Volume

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2025: Impact of Normal Intravascular Blood Volumes in Patients With Heart Failure: A Biomarker For Short-and Medium-Term Outcomes

ACC Scientific Session 2024: The Impact of Systemic and Pulmonary Afterload on the Pressure-Volume Relationship in Heart Failure Using Direct Blood Volume Measurement

Technology and Heart Failure Therapeutics Conference (THT) 2024: Blood Volume Profiles and Correlations with Pressures in Heart Failure with Impaired Renal Function

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2023: Clinical Assessment of Volume Status in Heart Failure is Inaccurate at Detecting Hypervolemia and Anemia as Quantified by Blood Volume Measurement

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2023: Introduction of Blood Volume Analysis to Guide Ambulatory Advanced Heart Failure Care

International Society for Heart and Lung Transplant 2023:  Differences in Pressure-Volume Relationship Between Obese and Non-Obese Patients with Advanced Heart Failure

International Society for Heart and Lung Transplant 2023:  Relationship Between Blood Volume Measures and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Performance in Advanced Heart Failure

International Society for Heart and Lung Transplant 2023:  Differences in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Performance Between True Anemia and Hemodilution in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2022: Length Of Stay After Blood Volume Analysis In Hospitalized Heart Failure

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2022: Heart Failure Outcomes With Volume-guided Management In An Over-65 Population

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2022: Correlation Between Pressure And Volume In Ambulatory Heart Failure: Sex-specific Analysis

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2022: Pressure-volume Profiles In Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction And Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2022: Impact of Right Ventricular Dysfunction of Blood Volume Expansion in Heart Failure 

International Society for Heart and Lung Transplant (ISHLT) Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions 2022: Intravascular Volume Derangement and Value of Blood Volume Analysis In Stable Ambulatory Patients with Advanced Heart Failure Supported with Left Ventricular Assist Device

Neurocritical Care Society 19th Meeting – The Influence Of Blood Volume Analysis On The Clinical Management Of Non-Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage 

Neurocritical Care Society 18th Meeting –  Blood Volume Analysis in the Management of Volume Status in Non-traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2021: Value of Blood Volume Analysis in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2021: The Phenotype of Polycythemia and Hypervolemia in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2021: Volume-Guided Venous To Venous Ultrafiltration In Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2021: Evaluation of Blood Volume Analysis-Guided Management of Decompensated Heart Failure

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2021: Monitoring Outpatient Blood VolumE in Heart Failure (MOVE-HF)

Society of Critical Care Congress 2021: A Quantitative Analysis of Clinical End Points of Resuscitation After Massive Blood Transfusions

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2020: Why is Diuresis-related Weight Loss Not a Consistent Predictor of Clinical Outcomes in Heart Failure? Need to Account for Variability in Volume Status

Heart Failure Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2020: Red Cell Volume Phenotypes in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients

Society of Critical Care Congress 2019: Peripheral Blood Hematocrit is an Inaccurate Index of Red Cell Volume in Critically Ill Subjects

Society of Critical Care Congress 2019: End Points of Resuscitation: Inaccurate Estimates of Intravascular Volume in Surgical Subjects?

Society of Critical Care Congress 2019: Reducing Blood Sampling for Circulating Blood Volume Determination: A Pilot Feasibility Analysis

Heart Failure Society of America 2018: Volume Kidney Interaction in Chronic Heart Failure: Impact of Subclinical Volume Expansion and Chronic Kidney Disease on Clinical Outcomes

Heart Failure Society of America 2018: Volume and Pressure in Heart Failure: Complementary, But Not Two Sides of the Same Coin

American Society of Nephrology 2008: Accuracy of Anemia Evaluation Is Improved in Acutely and Chronically Ill Patients by Accounting for Volume Status (Pillon et al.)

American Society of Nephrology 2012: Radioisotope Blood Volume Measurement in Hemodialysis Patients (Park et al.)

Heart Failure Society of America 2006: The Administration of Subcutaneous Erythropoietin in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure and Normal Ejection Fraction Over Three Months Is Safe and Effective (Cohen et al.)

Heart Failure Society of America 2010: Racial Differences in Blood Volumes in Patients with Heart Failure and a Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFPEF): Implications for Diagnosing Anemia (Noumi et al.)
Lack of Correlation between I-131 Labeled Albumin Measurements of Blood Volume and Serum B-Natiuretic Peptide Levels in Heart Failure Patients (Strobeck and Giordano)

Heart Failure Society of America 2012: Masked Polycythemia in Patients with Heart Failure and a Preserved Ejection Fraction: an Underappreciated Phenotype? (Ramnauth et al.)

Heart Failure Society of America 2013: Volume Overload and Quantitated Blood-Plasma Volume: How Effective is Intravenous Diuretic Therapy in Patients Hospitalized for Decompensated Chronic Heart Failure?

National Kidney Foundation 2009: Peripheral Blood Hematocrit is a Poor Surrogate for Red Blood Cell Volume in Patients with Volume Excess or Depletion (Pillon et al.)

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists 2010: Red Cell Mass Is Not Well Conserved Following Elective Cardiac Surgery Despite Use of Cell Salvage and Transfusion Guided by Peripheral Hematocrit (Nelson et al.)
Patients Are Not Normovolemic Following Cardiac Surgery Despite Concerted Efforts to Manage Fluid and Volume Status (Nelson et al.)

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2006: Correlation between Blood Volume and Pulmonary Artery Catheter Measurements (Yamauchi et al.)

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2007: Does Blood Volume and Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Correlate? (Apte et al.)
Does Hematocrit Reflect Red Cell Volume When Adjusted for Plasma Volume? (Edwards et al.)

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2008: Right Ventricular End Diastolic Volume (RVEDVI) and Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) May Not Reflect Volume Status in the Critically Ill Patient (Moran et al.)
Stroke Volume Variation as a Marker of Intravascular Volume Compared to Blood Volume Measurement (Pei et al.)

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2009: A Comparison of Pulse Pressure Variation and Blood Volume Measurement (Domingo et al.)

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2010: Activated Protein C and Corticosteroids Decrease the Rate of Albumin Transudation in Septic Shock (Hayashi et al.)
A Comparison of Pulse Pressure and Blood Volume Measurement (Domingo et al.)
Elevated Transcapillary Albumin Escape: A Marker of Increased Mortality (Inouye et al.)
A Prospective Randomized Trial Using Blood Volume Analysis vs. Pulmonary Artery Catheter Measurements to Guide Fluid and Red Cell Management (Mihae Yu et al.)
The Relationship Between IVC Collapsibility Ratio and Measured Whole Blood Volume in Surgical Critical Care Patients (Sharon Moran et al.)

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2011: Is There a Relationship between SOFA scores and Albumin Leak Rates as a Marker of Endothelial Dysfunction? (DeFrancesch et al.)
A Comparative Study of Systolic Pressure Variation and Blood Volume Measurements (Furuta et al.)

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2012: Comparison of Blood Volume Analysis Measured by Ultrasound Dilution Method and Radioisotope Dilution Technique (Furuta et al.)
The Use of Transcapillary Albumin Leak Rate as an Early Marker in a LPS Induced Sepsis Model (Bandt et al.)

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2013: Utilization of Blood Volume Analysis for Distinguishing Cerebral Salt Wasting from SIADH (Fulda, et al.)
A Comparison of Non-Invasive Hemoglobin Measurements to Laboratory Hemoglobin and to Red Blood Cell Volume-derived Hemoglobin (Shifflette, et al.)

Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting 2010: Poster: Normalized Hematocrit from Blood Volume Analysis Offers Enhanced Accuracy over Peripheral Hematocrit in Assessment of Red Blood Cell Volume (Manzone, Dam, Howard-Sachs)
Abstract: Normalized Hematocrit from Blood Volume Analysis Offers Enhanced Accuracy over Peripheral Hematocrit in Assessment of Red Blood Cell Volume (Manzone, Dam, Howard-Sachs)

Western Trauma Association Annual Meeting 2010: Abstract: Blood Volume Analysis Can Distinguish True Anemia From Hemodilution In Critically Ill Trauma Patients (Van et al.)
Presentation slide deck: Blood Volume Analysis Can Distinguish True Anemia From Hemodilution In Critically Ill Trauma Patients (Van et al.)

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2017: Capillary Albumin Transudation Rate and Outcome in Critically Ill Subjects

Abstracts

The Brooklyn Hospital Center/Cornell Medical College, Brooklyn, NY

Long Island Jewish Medical Center

Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York

Additional References

Civetta, Taylor, & Kirby’s Critical Care – 5th Edition – Chapter 27 – Blood Volume Measurement

Adverse Cerebral Outcomes after Coronary-Artery Bypass Surgery

Anemia Not Just an Innocent Bystander?

Anemia as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease in the Artherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Chronic Renal Failure after Transplantation of a Nonrenal Organ

Commentary on Measurement of Blood Volume and Red Cell Mass: Re-examination of 51CR and 125I Methods

Contracted Plasma and Blood Volume in Chronic Heart Failure

Diuretics, Mortality, and Nonrecovery of Renal Function in Acute Renal Failure

The Effect of Correction of Mild Anemia in Severe, Resistant Congestive Heart Failure Using Subcutaneous Erythropoietin and Intravenous Iron: A Randomized Controlled Study

Errors of Measurement for Blood Volume Parameters: A Meta-Analysis

The Growing Problem of Chronic Renal Failure after Transplantation of a Nonrenal Organ

Heart Failure

How Deadly is the Deadly Quartet?

International Council for Standardization in Haemotology (ICSH) Recommendations for Surrogate Reference Method for PCV

Is the Packed Cell Volume (PCV) Reliable?

Longitudinal Assessment of Neurocognitive Function after Coronary- Artery Bypass Surgery

Measurement of Blood Volume and Red Cell Mass: Re-examination of 51Cr and 125I Methods

A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial of Transfusion Requirements in Critical Care

Pacemaker Therapy for Prevention of Syncope in Patients with Recurrent Severe Vasovagal Syncope

Predicting Fluid Responsiveness in ICU Patients

Prediction of the Normal Blood Volume. Relation of Blood Volume to Body Habitus

Pulse Dye Densitometry: A Novel Bedside Monitor of Circulating Blood Volume

Recommended Methods for Measurement of Red-Cell and Plasma Volume

Reduced Kidney Function and Anemia as Risk Factor for Mortality in Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction

The Regulation and Measurement of Plasma Volume in Heart Failure

Selective Use of Diagnostic Tests in Patients with Syncope of Unknown Cause

The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure

Simultaneous Measurement of Plasma Volume and Cell Mass in Polycythemia of High Altitude

Syncope: Is a Diagnosis a Diagnosis?

[Transfusion] Management Strategies

The Use of Subcutaneous Erythropoietin of the Anemia of Severe, Resistant Congestive Heart Failure Improves Cardiac and Renal and Functional Cardiac Class, and Markedly Reduces Hospitalizations

Important Safety Information

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

 

The data provided by the BVA is to assist qualified healthcare professionals in patient diagnosis and management. The uses and benefits of the BVA test described on this website are based on scientific literature and clinical experience. However, individual patient outcomes may vary. This website is not intended to promote any off-label uses of the BVA device. Decisions regarding the use of the BVA test and the interpretation of its results must be made by a qualified healthcare professional. Daxor is not responsible for any actions or decisions taken based on the information provided on this website.

 

BVA™ and Volumex® Indication and Important Risk Information

 

Indications and Intended Use

 

The Daxor BVA is an automated system that is used to measure/calculate the red cell mass (mL), plasma volume (mL) and total blood volume (mL), along with the related deviations from ideal values by amount (mL) and percentage (%) in adults. In addition, the Normalized Hematocrit (%) and Albumin Transudation Rate (%/min) are calculated.

 

It is an in vitro medical device composed of a microprocessor, software, touchscreen, and gamma counter and accessory convenience kit. The Daxor BVA is intended to calculate human blood volumes by the method of tracer diffusion (Indicator dilution technique) with I-131 as the tracer after injection of I-131 Human Serum Albumin.

 

The Daxor BVA provides a Quantitative Assessment of total blood and plasma volumes using an automated system.

 

Data inputs to the software come from the measured characteristics of patient venous whole blood samples collected in K3EDTA vacutainer tubes (hematocrit and tracer concentration) and tracer calibration standards. The patient blood samples and the calibration standards are measured in a gamma counter, whose output is automatically input to this calculation program. The package also calculates the patient expected (or ideal) blood volume from physical parameters. Hyper- or hypovolemia, and associated red cell volumes are reported, with statistics showing the quality of the results.

 

For in vitro diagnostic use in a Clinical Laboratory setting and operated by laboratory technicians. Rx use only.

 

Contraindications and Clinical Postponement

 

Volumex is contraindicated for use in pregnant women. Furthermore, safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric or nursing patients. While there are otherwise no known contraindications for Volumex, the procedure should be deferred if the patient is unwilling to consent, if reliable venous access cannot be established, or if the patient is clinically unstable (e.g., experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath) unless under direct physician oversight.

 

Safety Precautions and Radiation Management

 

Minimize radiation exposure for patients and workers; radiopharmaceuticals must only be handled by qualified, licensed handlers. Lugol’s Solution may be administered starting 24 hours pre-injection to protect the thyroid. Keep the BVA at least 3 meters from interference sources like MRI or electrosurgical equipment.

 

Potential Adverse Events

 

Potential risks include theoretical allergic reactions and injection site infiltration; the total weekly dosage must not exceed 200 microcuries. Ensure accurate, current height and weight are used for “ideal” volume calculations.

 

Device and Material Caution

 

Visually inspect Volumex; discard if particulates are present or if coloration is darker than very pale yellow. Total weekly dosage must not exceed 200 microcuries. Accurate patient height and weight measurements are required to calculate “ideal” volumes; do not use patient history. Clean the unit enclosure with mild detergent or 10% bleach, but never use alcohol on the screen.

 

Disposal Procedures

 

Dispose of empty Volumex syringes in an appropriate sharps container after assaying. Blood samples and cartridges may be discarded as standard medical waste in a biohazard container.