Abstract
Objective
To compare the level of agreement of measurement of analytes (sodium, chloride, potassium, urea nitrogen [UN], creatinine, glucose) in a population of healthy adult cats between the point-of-care (POC) analyzer and laboratory analyzer. To establish reference intervals for the POC analyzer in healthy adult cats.
Design
Prospective observational study.
Setting
University teaching hospital.
Animals
Fifty-five cats were screened. Seven cats were excluded due to aggression that prohibited phlebotomy, and 1 cat was excluded due to prolonged restraint; 47 cats were enrolled.
Interventions
None.
Measurements and Main Results
In this patient population, reference intervals for the POC analyzer were calculated: sodium 145–157 mmol/L; chloride 116–124 mmol/L; potassium 3.4–5.5 mmol/L; UN 5.71–13.9 mmol/L (16–39 mg/dl); creatinine 74.3–189.2 mmol/L (0.84–2.14 mg/dl); and glucose 4–11.8 mmol/L (72–213 mg/dl). Comparison between the POC analyzer and laboratory analyzer using the Bland–Altman method was performed. The bias for each analyte is as follows: sodium 1.55 mmol/L; chloride 0.99 mmol/L; potassium 0.21 mmol/L; UN –0.25 mmol/L (–0.7 mg/dl); creatinine 9.73 mmol/L (0.11 mg/dl); and glucose 0.5 mmol/L (9.79 mg/dl).
Conclusions
Reference intervals for each analyte were similar to other chemistry analyzers. There was no significant difference between the POC and laboratory analyzers in analysis of UN, with a statistically significant difference observed with sodium, potassium, chloride, creatinine, and glucose. However, the values are likely not sufficiently different to alter initial clinical decisions regarding patient care.
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, EarlyView.Wiley: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care: Table of Contents