Abstract
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in canine medicine has been replaced by the evaluation of a few sensitive markers of the acute-phase proteins. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ESR using a point-of-care (MINIPET, DIESSE Diagnostica Senese S.p.A.) device (ESR-MP) and to compare the results with the gold standard Westergren method (ESR-W) in dogs. One hundred and nineteen K3-EDTA blood samples for complete blood count were randomly selected and assayed for ESR. The reference interval (RI) was established using the percentile method. The coefficient of variation (CV) in intra-assay and interassay precision of ESR-MP was calculated. The analytical sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive values (PPVs), and negative predictive values (NPVs) were calculated. Agreement between ESR-MP and ESR-W was assessed with Pearson correlation coefficient (r), Cohen concordance test (K), Passing-Bablok regression, and Bland–Altman plots. Ten canine samples (8.4%) were ruled out because of flag-error by the MINIPET instrument (4.2%) or because they showed the diphasic pattern in ESR-W (4.2%). The canine RI of ESR-MP was 0–10 mm/h. Precision was excellent in intra-assay (CV = 0.02) and interassay (CV = 0.32). The analytical characteristics of ESR-MP in nonanemic samples were as follows: Se = 0.82, Sp = 0.95, PPV = 0.82, and NPV = 0.95. The accuracy of ESR-MP was better than ESR-W in nonanemic samples (r = 0.87; K = 0.77) and lower in anemic subjects (Hct <37%) (r = 0.76; K = 0.69). The Passing-Bablok regression showed the presence of systematic error and the absence of proportional error only in nonanemic blood samples. The Bland–Altman plots gave negative average values due to the difference in RIs and an agreement in both ESRs. The ESR-MP results can be obtained with the same K3-EDTA tubes used for the blood count, in shortcut time, and at reduced costs using the MINIPET device. These investigations highlight that ESR-MP could be useful in canine clinical settings.
Highlights
To perform the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)-MP, a MINIPET device (DIESSE, Diagnostica Senese S.p.A., Siena, Italy) was used. e MINIPETis an automatic continuous loading instrument analysing up to four blood samples simultaneously collected in standard K3-EDTA tubes, using an optical system that measures the erythrocytes sedimentation level. e data are processed and printed or appear on a display. is method enables the use of the same sample tubes used for the blood count (K2-EDTA or K3-EDTA vials with the size as above of different brands) and provides results, corrected at the temperature of 18°C according to Manley’s nomogram, in 20 minutes [9]
Ten samples (8.4%) were ruled out because of an error (ERR) flag by the MINIPET (4.2%) (Hct values ranging 10.2–36.7%), or due to a diphasic pattern in ESR-W (4.2%) (Hct values ranging 15.4–44.7%)
A total of 57 blood samples from among the 76 samples of group 2 matched the inclusion criteria and were suitable for measuring the ESR-MP reference interval. e reference interval of ESR-MP was established as 0–10 mm/h. e intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variations were 0.02 and 0.32, respectively
Summary
1. Introduction e erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is one of the most widely performed laboratory assays in human medicine because it highlights the occurrence and the extent of inflammation. It is based on the principle that the sedimentation of red blood cells in autologous plasma is faster in patients with an increased plasma concentration of certain proteins, generally associated with acute tissue damage, chronic inflammation or infection, malignancy, and pregnancy [1]. ESRs were once used but the clinical evidence of inflammation is currently based on the evaluation of some specific and sensitive markers included in acute phase proteins (i.e., C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, and fibrinogen) [6,7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
