An interobserver and intraobserver study of buccal mucosal bleeding time in Greyhounds

Two observers experienced with the buccal mucosal bleeding-time technique using a standardised device (Surgicutt) performed the test on 20 Greyhounds, to evaluate interobserver and intraobserver repeatability. The interobserver and intraobserver repeatability were both about 2 minutes. The results indicated that, for any two readings within a dog, the buccal mucosal bleeding time may differ by up to +/- 2 minutes. A single reading was accurate to within +/- 80 seconds. Sixty-one Greyhounds were used to establish a reference interval for the buccal mucosal bleeding time, and to assess the relationship between the buccal mucosal bleeding time and plasma von Willebrand factor concentration. The mean was 129.5 (SD 44.2) seconds. The reference interval was 53 to 235 seconds, which was slightly lower than non-greyhounds. No significant correlation (r=-0. 18, P=0.17) between the buccal mucosal bleeding time and plasma von Willebrand factor concentration was found in the 61 Greyhounds, where plasma von Willebrand factor concentration was in the range 29 to 160 Canine Units dL(-1).