Emma H Hooijberg1, Carolyn Cray2, Michele Miller3, Peter Buss4, Gerhard Steenkamp1, Amelia Goddard1. 1. Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies and Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. 2. Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. 3. Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research/Medical Research, Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. 4. Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The bromocresol green (BCG) method has been reported to overestimate serum albumin concentration in several species due to non-specific binding to globulins. As the white rhinoceros has high concentrations of serum globulins, significant differences in albumin measured by the BCG method, and the field method of agarose gel serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) are expected. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the BCG and SPE methods for albumin determination in the serum of white rhinoceroses. METHODS: SPE and BCG albumin were measured in 82 white rhinoceros serum samples. Results were compared using Bland-Altman difference plots and Passing-Bablok regression analysis. RESULTS: BCG albumin showed a significant mean constant positive bias of 7 g/L, or 36%, which was more than the total allowable error of 15% and was clinically significant. Methods were not comparable within the inherent imprecision of each method. CONCLUSIONS: The BCG method overestimated albumin concentrations in this species compared with agarose gel SPE, and method-specific reference intervals should be used.
BACKGROUND: The bromocresol green (BCG) method has been reported to overestimate serum albumin concentration in several species due to non-specific binding to globulins. As the white rhinoceros has high concentrations of serum globulins, significant differences in albumin measured by the BCG method, and the field method of agarose gel serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) are expected. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the BCG and SPE methods for albumin determination in the serum of white rhinoceroses. METHODS: SPE and BCG albumin were measured in 82 white rhinoceros serum samples. Results were compared using Bland-Altman difference plots and Passing-Bablok regression analysis. RESULTS: BCG albumin showed a significant mean constant positive bias of 7 g/L, or 36%, which was more than the total allowable error of 15% and was clinically significant. Methods were not comparable within the inherent imprecision of each method. CONCLUSIONS: The BCG method overestimated albumin concentrations in this species compared with agarose gel SPE, and method-specific reference intervals should be used.
Authors: Christof Steyrer; Friederike Pohlin; Leith C R Meyer; Peter Buss; Emma H Hooijberg Journal: Vet Clin Pathol Date: 2022-03-04 Impact factor: 1.333