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Heparinized venous blood gas syringes are associated with a significant decrease in measured packed cell volume in
Coyne M Hopey1, Dana Caldwell1, Erin Binagia2
11Arizona Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Center, Gilbert, AZ.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|January 18, 2025
Summary
Preheparinized syringes and delayed centrifugation reduce packed cell volume (PCV) in canine blood samples due to hemodilution. Direct venipuncture with immediate processing is recommended for accurate PCV results.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Hematology
- Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine
- Canine Blood Analysis
Background:
- Accurate packed cell volume (PCV) measurement is crucial for diagnosing anemia and other conditions in dogs.
- Commercial preheparinized venous blood gas (PH-VBG) syringes are increasingly used, but their effect on PCV compared to traditional methods is not well-established.
- Delayed centrifugation can potentially alter sample composition and affect PCV readings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare PCV values obtained using directly filled microhematocrit tubes versus PH-VBG syringes.
- To evaluate the impact of a 15-minute delay before centrifugation on PCV measurements.
- To assess the potential for hemodilution introduced by PH-VBG syringes and delayed processing.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 306 blood samples from 102 dogs presented to an emergency department.
- Samples were analyzed using three methods: direct microhematocrit tubes, PH-VBG syringes, and PH-VBG syringes with a 15-minute delay before centrifugation.
- PCV results were compared across the three methods, with specific analysis for anemic and non-anemic dogs.
Main Results:
- The PH-VBG method yielded a mean PCV of 41.7%, and the delayed PH-VBG method yielded 40.1%, both lower than the direct method (43.9%).
- The direct method showed a positive bias compared to both PH-VBG methods (2.2% higher than PH-VBG, 3.8% higher than delayed PH-VBG).
- A greater bias was observed in anemic dogs when comparing the direct method to the delayed PH-VBG method (6.1% higher).
Conclusions:
- The use of preheparinized syringes and delayed centrifugation leads to hemodilution, resulting in lower PCV values.
- Direct venipuncture and immediate sample processing are essential for obtaining accurate PCV measurements in dogs.
- Clinicians should be aware of potential PCV underestimation when using PH-VBG syringes or delayed processing.
