Analytical Validation of Two Point-of-Care Assays for Hematological Analysis in the Miranda Donkey

Miranda donkeys are an endangered autochthonous breed of Portugal. The HemoCue WBC DIFF and HemoCue Hb 201 portable analyzers, developed as a simplified alternative method for total and differential WBC count and hemoglobin measurement, respectively, may be relevant tools in veterinary practice. This study aimed to validate these instruments using Miranda donkey blood samples. For the HemoCue WBC DIFF, most parameters showed acceptable intra- and inter-assay precision with coefficients of variation (CV) below 5%, except for monocytes and eosinophils with higher CVs. The HemoCue Hb 201 showed CVs of 1.98% and 4.07%. Linearity correlation coefficients (r) ranged from 0.53 to 0.99 for HemoCue WBC DIFF and 0.99 for HemoCue Hb 201. Significant levels for neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and Hb measurements varied. Comparisons with ProCyte Dx showed an excellent correlation for WBC (r_s = 0.96), neutrophils (r_s = 0.91), lymphocytes (r_s = 0.94), and eosinophils (r_s = 0.90) but a poor correlation for monocytes and basophils. The HemoCue Hb 201 showed a correlation of r_s = 0.96 with ProCyte Dx. In conclusion, both analyzers provided reliable results and are suitable for use in Miranda's donkey breed for WBC counts and Hb measurements.