Calibration of the HemoCue point-of-care analyser for determining hemoglobin concentration in a lizard and a fish

Hemoglobin concentration [Hb] is measured for a wide variety of animal studies. The use of Point-of-care devices, such as the HemoCue, is becoming increasingly common due to their portability, relative ease of use and low cost. This study aimed to determine whether the [Hb] of blue-tongued skink ( T...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation Physiology
Main Authors: Andrewartha, SJ, Munns, SL, Edwards, A
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/cow006
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/106982
Description
Summary:Hemoglobin concentration [Hb] is measured for a wide variety of animal studies. The use of Point-of-care devices, such as the HemoCue, is becoming increasingly common due to their portability, relative ease of use and low cost. This study aimed to determine whether the [Hb] of blue-tongued skink ( Tiliqua nigrolutea ) blood can be accurately determined using the HemoCue and whether the HemoCue overestimates [Hb] of reptile blood in a similar manner to fish blood. We additionally aimed to test whether ploidy affected [Hb] determined by the HemoCue using blood from diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). The HemoCue Hb 201 + systematically overestimated [Hb] in both blue-tongued skinks and Atlantic salmon and there was no difference between calibration equations determined for diploid or triploid salmon. The overestimation was systematic in both species, and as such, [Hb] determined by the HemoCue can be corrected using appropriate calibration equations.