Determination of plasma fibrinogen concentration in the horse.

The microhematocrit heat-precipitation methods of Millar et al (1971) and Schalm et al (1975) were compared with the reference clottable protein method of Ratnoff and Menzie (1951) in the measurement of plasma fibrinogen concentration in horses. The millar et al method was more precise and accurate and showed better positive correlation with the reference method than did the Schalm et al method. There was no significant difference in the plasma fibrinogen concentration between healthy Thoroughbreds and healthy horses of other breeds. Horses with bacterial pneumonia and abscesses had significantly greater plasma fibrinogen values than did those with colic, fractures, and nonsuppurative wounds. The Millar et al method was recommended as a simple, relatively accurate procedure for the determination of plasma fibrinogen that might be used as an additional diagnostic and prognostic indicator in the laboratory investigation of diseases in the horse.