Use of the Accusport semi-automated analyser to determine blood lactate as an aid in the clinical assessment of horses with colic
Schulman, M.L.; Nurton, J.P.; Guthrie, A.J.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 72(1): 12-17
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 1019-9128 PMID: 11563710 Document Number: 537365
This trial evaluated the Accusport's ability to determine blood lactate (BL) data as an adjunct to the clinical evaluation of equine colic cases. 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 from 10 clinically normal control horses and 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 the choice of therapeutic management (medical or surgical) and eventual case outcome (full recovery or died/euthanized) was also recorded. The Accusport was found to be interchangeable with the enzymatic kit for recording BL values in colic horses with BL<10 mmol/litre, which is within the BL range associated for survival. The interchangeability of an additional, laboratory-based wet chemical assay for BL, the Stat 7, was simultaneously evaluated for the colic 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. The data showed that both the Stat 7 and Accusport consistently measured lower BL values than the enzymatic kit method.