Oxygen saturation measurements in canine blood containing hemoglobin glutamer-200 (Bovine): in vitro validation of the NOVA CO-Oximeter.

Abstract

This study was designed to validate in vitro oxygen saturation (SO2) measurements with the NOVA CO-Oximeter (Nova Biomedical Corp, Waltham, Mass, USA) in canine blood containing hemoglobin (Hb) glutamer-200 bovine (Hb-200; Oxyglobin, Biopure, Cambridge, Mass, USA) as a Hb-based oxygen carrier recently introduced into clinical practice. In the first set of experiments, stored blood from 6 mixed-breed canine blood donors was used. Target PO2 levels were reached in aliquots of blood samples by tonometry. Oxygen saturation was then measured with the test device and calculated based on known PO2 values. In the second set of experiments, total oxygen content was directly measured by means of an oxygen-specific electrode in aliquots of fresh whole arterial, venous, and mixed (arterial-venous) blood withdrawn from the same canine blood donors. Hb-200 was added to those blood samples to yield plasma Hb concentrations of 1.62, 3.25, 6.50, and 9.75 g/dL. Based on Hb content and SO2 measured by the NOVA CO-Oximeter in these samples, total oxygen content was also calculated for each sample and compared with measured values. A strong correlation was found between SO2 values measured with the co-oximeter in samples after tonometry, and calculated SO2 based on known PO2. Directly measured total blood O2 content varied by </=5% from values computed based on co-oximeter measurements of Hb content and SO2. These results did not change with different levels of oxygenation of the samples or different plasma Hb-200 concentrations. In conclusion, the NOVA CO-Oximeter is an accurate analyzer for measurement of SO2 after Hb-200 administration to canine blood.