Quantitative buffy coat analysis of blood collected from dogs, cats, and horses.

This research presents the application and benefits of quantitative buffy coat analysis (QBCA) in determining blood components for dogs, cats, and horses. It compares the accuracy and convenience of QBCA to conventional methods, suggesting that it could be a useful tool in animal hematologic examination.

About Quantitative Buffy Coat Analysis (QBCA)

• QBCA is a diagnostic tool which gives rapid and accurate measurements of blood components such as erythrocyte packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell (WBC) count, and platelet count.
• It also differentiates the leukocyte population into total granulocytes, including quantitation of eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes.

Process of QBCA

• A small blood sample (50 to 111 microliters) is loaded into a high-precision microhematocrit tube that contains a freely moving plastic float.
• The sample is then centrifuged for 5 minutes, causing the buffy coat components to separate by density.
• The plastic cylinder within the tube floats in the buffy coat, making it easier to see and measure the distinct layers of the buffy coat.
• The layers are then measured, following a similar process to measuring PCV.

Findings from Experimentation

• The study applied QBCA on blood samples from dogs, cats and horses.
• Results obtained from the QBCA were compared to results obtained through conventional methods. The research showed that the hematologic values gathered, correlated.
• The correlation suggests that QBCA offers accurate and reliable results.

Benefits of QBCA

• QBCA proves its accuracy and simplicity in comparison to conventional methods.
• The immediate availability of results while the animal is undergoing an examination enhances its usefulness for veterinary practitioners.
• The study suggests that QBCA could be a beneficial tool for hematologic evaluations of animals.