Variation in Plasma Creatinine Levels in Dogs Across European Veterinary Laboratories
Author Information
Author(s): Tina Ulleberg, Joris Robben, Kathrine M Nordahl, Thomas Ulleberg, Reidun Heiene
Hypothesis
There is relatively low variation in plasma creatinine values as analyzed by some major veterinary laboratories in Northern Europe.
Conclusion
Despite close analytical results, further standardization among laboratories is needed due to discrepancies in reference intervals.
Supporting Evidence
- Inter- and intra-laboratory variation was clinically acceptable for most samples.
- A few extreme outliers caused three laboratories to fail statistical testing for consistency.
- Discrepancies in reference intervals largely reflect different populations used in establishing them.
Takeaway
This study looked at how different veterinary labs measure creatinine in dogs, finding that results can vary a lot, which can confuse doctors treating pets.
Methodology
Samples were collected from 30 dogs categorized into three groups and analyzed by 10 different veterinary laboratories using their routine methods.
Potential Biases
Some laboratories had significant outliers that could skew results.
Limitations
The study's results may be influenced by postal delivery times and the freezing-thawing process of samples.
Participant Demographics
Dogs were categorized as healthy, with intermediate values, or with azotemia, with a weight above 4 kg and age above 1 year.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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