Response of the VCMVet viscoelastic coagulation monitor to veterinary environmental simulation challenges

Traditional viscoelastic clotting tests are significantly impacted by the operator and environmental variation. The VCMVet coagulation monitor could provide a more user-friendly alternative for veterinary practices.

We aimed to determine if environmental vibration commonly encountered in veterinary practice alters the results of a point-of-care viscoelastic device, the VCMVet.

Nine fresh whole blood samples from healthy dogs were evaluated simultaneously using VCMVet instruments under four environmental conditions: (normal) alone and undisturbed on a raised tabletop, (centrifuge) on a countertop 6 inches from a centrifuge that operated at 12 000 rpm for 10 minutes every 20 minutes, (workspace) on a tabletop workspace in proximity to two heavy-use computers, and (gurney) on a rolling gurney at a walking pace for 10 minutes every 20 minutes. Results were compared between conditions using a Friedman test, and if this was significant (P-value < .05), it was followed by a Wilcoxon test for paired samples.

Analysis of samples on a rolling gurney created obvious movement artifacts, and this condition was excluded from statistical analysis. The centrifuge condition resulted in a significantly higher alpha angle (median 49 degrees, interquartile range 4) than the normal condition (median 46 degrees, interquartile range 5, P = .0078). Other viscoelastic parameters were not significantly different between the normal, centrifuge, and workspace conditions.

The VCMVet is suitable for use in a busy veterinary environment but should be protected from vibration. The instrument does not produce reliable results when operated on a moving gurney, and it should be stationary during sample analysis.