Method-Comparison and Reference Interval Determination in Animal Medicine

Abstract

An acceptable agreement permits interchangeability of the instruments. For this purpose, we have investigated the agreement of several clinical instruments frequently used in clinical practice with their laboratory counterpart. We have estimated the agreement between a point-of-care blood gas analyzer (i-Stat, Abaxis) and a bench-top blood gas analyzer (Nova, Biomedical) in venous samples from Hermann’s tortoises. We have estimated the agreement between a point-of-care chemistry analyzer (VetScan VS2, Abaxis) and a laboratory analyzer (Olympus AU400, Olympus Co.) in venous samples from Hermann’s tortoises. We have estimated the agreement between portable blood glucose meters (Accu-Chek, Aviva; AlphaTrak 2, Abbott) and a laboratory analyzer (Dimension EXL, Siemens) in venous samples from client-owned rabbits. We have estimated the agreement between point-of-care bench-top glucose measurement (VetScan VS2, Abaxis) and a laboratory analyzer (Dimension EXL, Siemens) in venous samples from client-owned rabbits. Beyond method comparison and validation, reference interval determination for common laboratory testing is required to allow the clinician to discriminate individuals that are different from the remaining population for a certain parameter. We have calculated reference intervals for blood gas in Hermann’s tortoises. We have calculated reference intervals for protein electrophoresis in Hermann’s tortoises. We have described normal hematology in Hermann’s tortoises. We have calculated reference intervals for clinical chemistry in Hermann’s tortoises. We have calculated reference intervals for aldosterone in ferrets. Based on our results, animal species requires individual validation of laboratory methods and reference intervals. Lack of consideration of these findings may result in clinical misdiagnosis and improper treatment of animals.