Use of the Accusport semi-automated analyser to determine blood lactate as an aid in the clinical assessment of horses with colic

Abstract

The most useful diagnostic methods in the initial evaluation of horses with colic assess the morphological and functional status of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular status. This evaluation is best achieved using a combination of clinical and laboratory data. Blood lactate concentration (BL) is one of these variables. BL rises mainly due to poor tissue perfusion and anaerobic glycolysis associated with shock, providing an indicator of both the severity of disease and its prognosis. A hand-held lactate meter, Accusport, provides a rapid (60 seconds), inexpensive dry-chemical-based determination of BL. This trial evaluated the Accusport's ability to provide BL data as an adjunct to the initial clinical evaluation of horses with colic. The accuracy of the Accusport was tested by evaluation of its interchangeability with the benchmark enzymatic kit evaluation of BL in a trial using data collected firstly from 10 clinically normal control horses and subsequently from 48 horses presented with signs of colic. The BL values were recorded together with the clinical variables of heart rate (HR), capillary refill time (CRT), haematocrit (Hct), and pain character and severity on the initial assessment of the colic horses. Information regarding choice of therapeutic management (medical or surgical) and eventual case outcome (full recovery or died/euthanased) was recorded. The Accusport was found to be interchangeable with the enzymatic kit for recording BL values in colic horses with BL <10 mmol/ , which is within the BL range associated with survival. The interchangeability of an additional, laboratory-based wet chemical assay for BL, the Stat 7 was simultaneously evaluated for the colic and control horses. The Stat 7 was found to be interchangeable with the enzymatic kit for BL determination of colic horses. No linear associations between BL values with HR, CRT, Hct or pain assessment were observed. No relationship with either selection of therapeutic method or eventual case outcome was observed. All horses with BL >8 mmol/ died or were euthanased

Association of hyperlactatemia with age, diagnosis, and survival in equine neonates

“…Results were underestimated when lactate concentration was >10 mmol/L or when the was >53% 17 . That monitor was found to be accurate when compared with the gold standard assay, enzymatic kits, and when compared with a POC blood gas analyzer (that also measures lactate) in adult horses with colic 18 …”

“…17 That monitor was found to be accurate when compared with the gold standard assay, enzymatic kits, and when compared with a POC blood gas analyzer (that also measures lactate) in adult horses with colic. 18 A more recent study assessed agreement between whole blood and plasma lactate concentrations when measured on a POC lactate analyzer and a commercial blood gas analyzer. 19 Concordance analysis showed close agreement between lactate readings for POC plasma measurements and the commercial blood gas analyzer and moderate agreement (with wider 95% CI) between whole blood lactate and the blood gas analyzer.…”

Acute‐phase proteins as diagnostic markers in horses with colic

“…Blood lactate was assessed within 10 minutes of collection by a spectrophotometric blood gas analyzer at Hospital 1 and by a handheld lactate analyzer at Hospital 2. The handheld lactate analyzer had an acceptable correlation ( r = 0.75) with a spectrophotometrically enzymatic kit at lactate concentrations <10 mmol/L . SAA and Hp analyses of serum and PF samples from both hospitals were performed in 1 batch at the laboratory of Hospital 1.…”

Using Portable Lactate and Glucose Meters for Catfish Research: Acceptable Alternatives to Established Laboratory Methods?

“…(Osi et al 2003), horses Equus spp. (Schulman et al 2001), and humans (Dillon et al 1997;Pyne et al 2000;Newman et al 2002;Solnica et al 2003) as well as rhinoceros auklets Cerorhinca monocerata (Lieske et al 2002). Evaluations of handheld meters for use with fish are sparse and have been primarily limited to salmonids (Iwama et al 1995;Wells and Pankhurst 1999).…”