Evaluation of an automated system for hemoglobin measurement in animals.
Abstract: In veterinary medicine, PCV determined by centrifugation of blood in a microhematocrit tube is the most common clinical test used to initially assess and monitor anemic and polycythemic animals. In contrast, blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, rather than PCV, is generally determined in human patients. One automated system photometrically measures blood Hb concentration after conversion of Hb to azide methemoglobin without dilution and was found to be a simple and accurate instrument for use in human medicine. We evaluated the system for its accuracy in measuring blood Hb concentration in animals by comparing it with standard techniques and for its suitability in veterinary practice. Blood samples, anticoagulated with potassium EDTA, from 78 healthy animals (33 dogs, 17 cats, 13 horses, and 15 cows) and 58 dogs and 4 cats with various blood abnormalities (10 anemia, 11 polycythemia, 21 lipemia, 16 leukocytosis, and 6 icterus) were analyzed. In all species, blood Hb concentration of healthy animals determined by the system was comparable to that measured by standard cyanmethemoglobin methods (ie, an automated counter; rI = 0.987 to 0.998 and a hemoglobin kit, rI = 0.946 to 0.993). The aforementioned system also yielded similar values to those obtained by use of standard methods in anemic, polycythemic, and icteric dogs and cats. Moreover, the system reads the absorbance at 2 wavelengths to correct for turbidity, and therefore, accurately measured Hb concentration in blood samples with severe lipemia (triglycerides concentration > 500 mg/dl) and marked leukocytosis (> 50,000 WBC/microliter), whereas other standard Hb techniques are known to give falsely high results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1992-10-01 PubMed ID: 1456515 The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
- Animal Health
- Animal Science
- Animal Studies
- Blood
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Health
- Hemoglobin
- Horses
- Laboratory Methods
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The study validates the use of an automated system that accurately measures hemoglobin levels in diverse animal species. The system works well with samples presenting a variety of blood disorders and compares favorably with traditional methods typically used in veterinary practice.
Introduction and Methodology
- The research involves an evaluation of an automated system previously used in human medicine, which measures blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration in animals and compares the results with standard techniques. The system is evaluated for its accuracy and suitability in veterinary practice.
- The system measures Hb concentration photometrically, after converting Hb to azide methemoglobin without dilution of the sample. This makes the process simpler and potentially more accurate than the commonly used technique of determining packed cell volume (PCV) in veterinary settings.
- The test samples comprise of blood from healthy animals (dogs, cats, horses, and cows) as well as a number of animals displaying various blood abnormalities (anemia, polycythemia, lipemia, leukocytosis, and icterus).
Findings
- The Hb concentration measured by the automated system is found to be comparable to that calculated by standard cyanmethemoglobin methods. This underscores the system’s efficiency and accuracy across multiple species.
- The results obtained by the system mirror those produced with the use of standard methods even in animals experiencing blood abnormalities. This indicates the system’s effectiveness in a diverse range of clinical scenarios.
- The system can accurately measure Hb concentration in blood samples even with severe lipemia and marked leukocytosis. This is an exceptional feature of the system, given that traditional techniques may provide falsely high results in these situations.
Implication
- If adopted widely, the automated system could change diagnostics within veterinary medicine. The study suggests the system provides an accurate, simplified method for hemoglobin measurement – making it sufficiently suitable for different animal species, including those with a range of blood abnormalities. With further research, it could potentially improve the precision and reliability of hemoglobin measurements in veterinary practice.
Cite This Article
APA
Callan MB, Giger U, Oakley DA, Scotti MV, Shofer FS.
(1992).
Evaluation of an automated system for hemoglobin measurement in animals.
Am J Vet Res, 53(10), 1760-1764.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6010.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Autoanalysis / veterinary
- Cats
- Cattle
- Dogs
- Evaluation Studies as Topic
- Hematologic Diseases / blood
- Hematologic Diseases / veterinary
- Hemoglobinometry / methods
- Hemoglobinometry / veterinary
- Horses
- Sensitivity and Specificity
Grant Funding
- HL02355 / NHLBI NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Tritschler C, Mizukami K, Raj K, Giger U. Increased erythrocytic osmotic fragility in anemic domestic shorthair and purebred cats. J Feline Med Surg 2016 Jun;18(6):462-70.
- Sun Y, Yiew XT, Beeler-Marfisi J, Kerr CL, Monteith G, Bateman S. Method Comparison and Investigation of Interference Variables of a Hand-Held Hemoglobinometer(HemoCue Hb 201(+)) in Cats. Vet Clin Pathol 2025 Sep;54(3):211-220.
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