DETERMINATION OF PLASMA-FIBRINOGEN CONCEN TRATION IN THE HORSE WITH HEAT-PRECIPITATION TECHNIQUES (SCHALM-METHOD AND MILLAR-METHOD)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of two hea t-precipitation techniques (Schalm- and Millar-method) as screening te sts to measure plasma fibrinogen concentration in horses. Based on the measurement of samples from 108 different horses, the coefficient of correlation (CC) for the relationship between the results with the Sch alm- and with the reference-method (Jacobsson) were much lower (r = 0, 78) than between the Millar- and Jacobsson-method (r = 0,94). Furtherm ore the Schaim-method was less precise as reflected by the greater coe fficient of variation (CV, within-run precision) with a sample of low limit fibrinogen concentration (CV = 47,4 %) and with a sample of high fibrinogen concentration (CV = 35,6 %) than the Millar-method (CV = 1 1,1 resp. 2,9 %). In 40 healthy horses, aged 3 to 19 years, fibrinogen values ranged from 1,82 to 4,94 g/l (2,5-97,5 %-quantil). The Millar- Method is recommended as a simple and suitable heat-precipitation assa y for fibrinogen determination in the horse.