Comparison of 2 glucose analytical methodologies in immature Kemp's ridley sea turtles: dry chemistry of plasma versus point-of-care glucometer analysis of whole blood. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perrault, Justin R.; Arendt, Michael D.; Schwenter, Jeffrey A.; Byrd, Julia L.; Tuxbury, Kathryn A.; Stacy, Nicole I.
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation. Volume 33:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 595
• Page End: 599
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: marine turtle -- packed cell volume -- plasma biochemistry -- point-of-care device; Veterinary medicine -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; 636.0896075
• DOI: 10.1177/10406387211001830
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-6387

Abstract

Blood glucose measurements provide important diagnostic information regarding stress, disease, and nutritional status. Glucose analytical methodologies include dry chemistry analysis (DCA) of plasma and point-of-care (POC) glucometer analysis of whole blood; however, these 2 methods differ in cost, required sample volume, and processing time. Because POC glucometers use built-in equations based on features of mammalian blood to convert whole blood measurements to plasma equivalent units, obtained glucose data must be compared and validated using gold-standard chemistry analytical methodology in reptiles. For in-water, trawl-captured, immature Kemp's ridley sea turtles ( Lepidochelys kempii ) from Georgia, USA, we observed significant, positive agreement between the 2 glucose determination methods; however, the glucometer overestimated glucose concentrations by 1.4 mmol/L on average in comparison to DCA and produced a wider range of results. The discordance of these results suggests that POC glucometer glucose data should be interpreted in the context of methodology- and brand-specific reference intervals along with concurrent packed cell volume data.