Evaluation of the i-STAT hand-held chemical analyser during treadmill and endurance exercise.

The research is an examination of the accuracy and reliability of a handheld chemical analyser known as the i-STAT. The objective of these tests was to determine how effectively this device could measure, in horses, certain blood constituents that indicate metabolic disorders, particularly during strenuous exercise.

Method and Procedure

• The study was conducted using 3 Thoroughbred geldings that had been adequately prepared to exercise on a treadmill.
• Blood samples were drawn both before and after the horses had been made to exercise at a speed calculated to push them to their maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max).
• These blood samples were then analysed using both the i-STAT and in-house analysers, for measurements of pH, the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2), the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), bicarbonate (HCO3), lactate, and the base excess (BE).
• The values obtained from the two different types of analyses were then compared.

Results

• The i-STAT showed considerable accuracy and precision in determining pH, PO2 and PCO2, and lactate levels.
• From these results, it was concluded that the i-STAT can be trusted with accurately evaluating these parameters.

Further Testing

• The i-STAT was then tested in a real-world scenario, at veterinary checkpoints during a 60 and 100-mile endurance ride.
• Considering that the i-STAT has a built-in thermostat that keeps the device from functioning outside of a certain temperature range (16-30 degrees C), it was kept in an ice-cooled container to insulate it from the warm external environment, except during actual blood analyses.
• It was recommended from this portion of the study that more research is required into the practical use of handheld chemical analysers like the i-STAT during endurance rides at veterinary checkpoints.