A PORTABLE BLOOD-GAS ANALYZER FOR EQUINE VENOUS-BLOOD

Evaluation of a portable blood gas analyzer, (StatPal II, Unifet, Inc. La Jolla, CA) was performed using tonometered solutions and equine bl ood. Samples were analyzed by the StatPal II and either an Instrument Laboratory IL1306 (Lexington, MA) or a Radiometer ABL50 blood gas anal yzer (Radiometer America Inc., Westlake, OH). Comparison of the StatPa l II and the IL1306 was done by analysis of 3 tonometered solutions (a cidic, normal, and alkalotic) and 27 equine venous blood samples. Bloo d pH, PCO2, PO2, and [HCO3-] values were altered by IV infusion of 5% sodium bicarbonate or exercising the horses on a treadmill. Comparison of the StatPal II and the Radiometer was performed by analysis of 78 blood samples collected from Standardbred horses before a race. Data w ere analyzed for the venous blood samples using a paired two-tailed St udent's t test and Bland-Altman plots, with significance set at P<.05. The coefficients of variation for pH, PCO2, PO2, and [HCO3-] values o f the tonometered solutions analyzed by the StatPal II ranged from 0.0 67% to 0.087%, 2% to 3.21%. 1.21% to 2.67%. and 0.267% to 0.828%. resp ectively. Comparison of the equine blood samples analyzed by the StatP al II and the IL1306 demonstrated statistically significant, but clini cally irrelevant differences in pH, PCO2, and PO2, but not [HCO3-]. Th ere were statistically significant, but clinically irrelevant differen ces between the StatPal II and the Radiometer for pH, PCO2, and [HCO3- ], but not for PO2. It is concluded that the StatPal II provides repro ducible and acceptable analysis of equine Venous blood gas samples.