Impact of Delayed Analysis in Avian Blood Biochemical Values Measured With the Abaxis VetScan VS2

• Published in: Journal of avian medicine and surgery Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 200 - 209
• Main Authors: Hoppes, Sharman M, Boyd, Janice D, Brightsmith, Donald J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Association of Avian Veterinarians 01-09-2015; Association of Avian Veterinarians
• Subjects: Abaxis VetScan; analysis delay; Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; avian; biochemical values; Biological control systems; Blood Chemical Analysis - instrumentation; Blood Chemical Analysis - methods; Blood Chemical Analysis - veterinary; Blood Specimen Collection - veterinary; Cisplatin; Etoposide; Evaluation; field studies; Medical equipment; Mitoxantrone; Observations; parrot; Physiological apparatus; Physiological aspects; point-of-care analyzer; Point-of-Care Systems; Psittaciformes - blood; psittacine; Research Brief; Tamoxifen; Time Factors; Texas; biochemical values; analysis delay; field studies; point-of-care analyzer; parrot; psittacine; Abaxis VetScan; avian
• ISSN: 1082-6742; 1938-2871
• DOI: 10.1647/2014-033

For biochemical analysis with a point-of-care biochemical analyzer, standard procedure is to analyze the sample as rapidly as possible (<1 hour) after venipuncture to minimize any changes in analyte concentrations that might occur over time. However, under some circumstances, such as when collecting blood at remote field sites, a longer delay may be unavoidable. This study evaluates the effect of delayed analysis time under unrefrigerated conditions on avian (psittacine) biochemical analyte concentrations obtained with the VetScan VS2 using Avian/Reptilian Profile Plus rotors. Venipuncture was performed on a group of 36 psittacine birds as part of routine health checks in a research aviary (Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX, USA). Whole blood was kept at room temperature and analyzed at 4 time intervals: <1, 3, 6, and 24 hours after venipuncture. At 3 hours or less after collection, most biochemical parameters changed by <2%, with the exception of phosphorus (decrease of about −9%). Major increases by 24 hours after collection were observed in phosphorus (+67%) and potassium (+103%) concentrations, whereas aspartate aminotransferase (AST), uric acid, glucose, and sodium concentrations also showed statistically significant changes. Our results suggest that accurate information from analyses using the VetScan VS2 may be obtained for up to 3 hours after venipuncture without refrigeration, but researchers and clinicians do need to exercise care when interpreting blood chemistry analyte concentrations obtained after multihour delays between venipuncture and sample analysis.