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Hematologic and Biochemical Biologic Variation in Laboratory Cats.
Catherine Trumel1, Céline Monzali2, Anne Geffré1
1Central Medical Biology Laboratory, Université de Toulouse, Clinical Pathology and Histology Group, CREFRE, Université de Toulouse, INSERM, UPS, ENVT, Toulouse, France.
Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS
|September 23, 2016
Summary
Understanding biologic variation is key for interpreting laboratory cat test results. Subject-based reference intervals (RI) and reference change values (RCV) are recommended for monitoring individual cats over time, especially for certain hematologic and biochemical variables.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Clinical Pathology
- Laboratory Animal Science
Background:
- Interpreting clinical pathology results requires understanding biologic variation.
- Population-based reference intervals (RI) often confound analytical, interindividual, and intraindividual variability.
- Population-based RI may lack sensitivity for detecting individual changes over time when intraindividual variability is low.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the biologic variation and reference change value (RCV) for hematologic and biochemical variables in laboratory cats.
- To assess the suitability of population-based versus subject-based RI for monitoring these variables.
- To provide a tool for monitoring healthy laboratory cats.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 14 laboratory cats (7 female, 7 male) seven times over 100 days.
- Hematology and biochemistry variables were analyzed.
- Analytical, intraindividual, and interindividual coefficients of variation were estimated to calculate the index of individuality and RCV.
Main Results:
- Red blood cell variables and five biochemical analytes (cholesterol, creatinine, triglycerides, ALP, calcium) showed marked individuality, favoring subject-based RI or RCV.
- Population-based RI were adequate for glucose and sodium.
- Both population and individual RI were similarly efficient for many other hematologic and biochemical variables.
Conclusions:
- Subject-based reference intervals or RCV are preferable for monitoring specific hematologic and biochemical variables in individual laboratory cats.
- Population-based RI are sufficient for certain analytes.
- The established RCV serves as a valuable tool for monitoring healthy laboratory cats.
