Comparative biochemical analyses of venous blood and peritoneal fluid from horses with colic using a portable analyser and an in-house analyser.

This research tried to evaluate the reliability of a portable clinical analyser by comparing it with an in-house analyser, for certain biochemical tests, in the context of equine colic cases. The results showed some differences in the measurements achieved by the two devices, with the portable device providing higher pH values in certain conditions, and often underestimating concentrations of key substances.

Study Background and Rationale

• The study was based on the need to assess the effectiveness of a portable clinical analyser in diagnosing the condition of colic, which is a common ailment in horses.
• This was compared against an in-house analyser, which is more regularly used in veterinary clinics for these tests.

Study Methodology

• The researchers included 56 horses diagnosed with colic over a period of three months.
• They studied specific biochemical markers including glucose, lactate, sodium, potassium, and chloride, along with pH of blood and peritoneal fluid samples.
• Each sample was analysed using both the portable analyser and the in-house analyser.

Main Findings

• The portable analyser showed discrepancies compared to the in-house device.
• In the alkaline range, it gave higher pH values for blood and peritoneal fluid with more variability. It also provided lower pH values in the acidic range.
• The portable device also displayed lower concentrations of glucose in the range below 8.3 mmol/l, and lower concentrations of lactate in venous blood below 5 mmol/l and in peritoneal fluid below 2 mmol/l, with less variability.
• Overall, the portable analyser tended to underestimate the concentrations of lactate and glucose in peritoneal fluid compared to its counterpart.
• Its measurements of sodium and chloride concentrations in peritoneal fluid showed higher bias and were more variable than those in venous blood.
• Lastly, its potassium measurements in venous blood and peritoneal fluid were characterized by smaller bias and less variability compared to the ones made with the in-house analyser.

Interpretation and Implications

• The study indicated that while the portable analyser could be useful in field settings, it might not be as accurate as the in-house analyser for certain measurements.
• The results raise potential concerns over the potential inaccuracies that could arise when using the portable analyser, especially with potential underestimations of glucose and lactate concentrations in peritoneal fluid.
• These differences might have implications in the diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy of colic cases in horses.