Effects of in vitro hemolysis on serum biochemistry values of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

The effects of in vitro hemolysis on 23 biochemical analytes were assessed in sera from 14 clinically healthy Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops t runcatus). Each serum sample was divided into three portions for analysis: 1) nonhemolyzed control; 2) moderate hemolysis, simulated by adding hemolyz ed serum to a final concentration of approximately 150 mg/dl Hb; and 3) sev ere hemolysis, simulated by adding hemolyzed serum to a final concentration of approximately 500 mg/dl Hb. Moderate hemolysis resulted in statisticall y significant increases in the mean values of iron, lactate dehydrogenase, potassium, and uric acid and a decrease in creatinine (P < 0.001). Severe h emolysis resulted in statistically significant changes in the mean values o f the above analytes in addition to the following increases: alanine aminot ransferase, calcium, and serum globulins (P < 0.001) and albumin and total protein (P < 0.01). Total bilirubin and gamma glutamyl transferase levels w ere lower in the severely hemolyzed sample (P < 0.001). Differences in mean values for alkaline phosphatase between nonhemolyzed and hemolyzed serum w ere not significant but did show a downward trend in the hemolyzed sera. Th e presence and severity of hemolysis must be considered in the interpretati on of the serum chemistry values.