Accuracy of point-of-care crossmatching methods and crossmatch incompatibility in critically ill dogs.

BACKGROUND: The performance of commercial point-of-care crossmatch (CM) tests compared to laboratory tube agglutination CM is unknown. Additionally, there is limited information regarding CM incompatibility in ill dogs. OBJECTIVES: To determine if point-of-care major CM methods are accurate in detecting compatible and incompatible tests when compared to laboratory CM methods, and to identify factors associated with CM incompatibility in dogs. ANIMALS: Part 1 (prospective) included 63 client-owned dogs potentially requiring blood transfusion. Part 2 (retrospective) included all dogs from part 1, plus medical records of 141 dogs with major CM results. METHODS: For part 1, major CM was performed using a tube agglutination assay (LAB-CM), a gel-based point-of-care test (GEL-CM), and an immunochromatographic point-of-care test (IC-CM). For part 2, medical record data were collected to determine rates of and risk factors for CM incompatibility. RESULTS: Kappa agreement between the LAB-CM and GEL-CM methods could not be calculated due to a relative lack of incompatible results. Kappa agreement between the LAB-CM and IC-CM methods was 0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0-0.31, P = .007) indicating no agreement. The LAB-CM incompatibility in transfusion-naïve vs dogs that had a transfusion was 25% and 35%, (P = .3). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Compared to laboratory methods, point-of-care methods evaluated in our study lacked sensitivity for detecting incompatibilities. Dogs had similar rates of major CM incompatibility regardless of transfusion history. This suggests CM testing prior to transfusion be considered in all dogs however our study did not investigate clinical relevancy of incompatible LAB-CM.

Cytological, microbiological and therapeutic aspects of systemic infection in a dog caused by the fungus Phialosimplex caninus.

A seven-year-old immunocompetent dog presenting with lymphadenopathy, mesenteric masses and splenic nodules was diagnosed with Phialosimplex caninus infection. Cytology of a mesenteric mass aspirate demonstrated few intact cells but numerous variably sized fungal cells and rare hyphal fragments. The identity of the cultured fungus was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Itraconazole therapy improved clinical signs, but the fungus was reisolated at follow-up. P. caninus systemic infection should be suspected in dogs presenting with lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly.

ASVCP quality assurance guidelines: control of preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical factors for urinalysis, cytology, and clinical chemistry in veterinary laboratories.

In December 2009, the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standards committee published the updated and peer-reviewed ASVCP Quality Assurance Guidelines on the Society's website. These guidelines are intended for use by veterinary diagnostic laboratories and veterinary research laboratories that are not covered by the US Food and Drug Administration Good Laboratory Practice standards (Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Chapter 58). The guidelines have been divided into 3 reports: (1) general analytical factors for veterinary laboratory performance and comparisons; (2) hematology, hemostasis, and crossmatching; and (3) clinical chemistry, cytology, and urinalysis. This particular report is one of 3 reports and documents recommendations for control of preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical factors related to urinalysis, cytology, and clinical chemistry in veterinary laboratories and is adapted from sections 1.1 and 2.2 (clinical chemistry), 1.3 and 2.5 (urinalysis), 1.4 and 2.6 (cytology), and 3 (postanalytical factors important in veterinary clinical pathology) of these guidelines. These guidelines are not intended to be all-inclusive; rather, they provide minimal guidelines for quality assurance and quality control for veterinary laboratory testing and a basis for laboratories to assess their current practices, determine areas for improvement, and guide continuing professional development and education efforts.

Evaluation of the ADVIA 120 for analysis of canine cerebrospinal fluid.

BACKGROUND: Conventional techniques for canine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis require large sample volumes and are labor intensive and subject to operator variability. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ADVIA120 CSF assay for analysis of canine CSF samples. METHODS: CSF samples collected from 36 healthy control dogs and 17 dogs with neurologic disease were processed in parallel using the automated assay and established manual methods using a hemocytometer and cytocentrifugation. Results for WBC (total nucleated cell) count, RBC count, and differential nucleated cell percentages were compared using Spearman rank correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman bias plots. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients for WBC and RBC counts were 0.57 and 0.83 for controls, and 0.92 and 0.94 for ill dogs, respectively. Coefficients for the percentages of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were 0.53, 0.26, and 0.12 for controls and 0.77, 0.92, and 0.70 for dogs with neurologic disease. When data were combined (n=53), correlation coefficients were 0.86 and 0.91 for WBC and RBC counts, and 0.63, 0.43, and 0.30 for neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte percentages. A 9.5% positive bias and 7.0% negative bias were obtained for the ADVIA 120 CSF assay for lymphocytes and macrophages in dogs with neurologic disease with Bland-Altman analysis. A 12.2% positive bias was found for lymphocyte percentage in dogs with neurologic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Manual and automated CSF assays had moderate to excellent correlation for WBC and RBC concentrations, but results were more variable for differential cell percentages. The ADVIA assay may be more useful for assessment of canine CSF with adjustment of cell differentiation algorithms.

Eucoleus aerophilus respiratory infection in a dog with Addison's disease.

A 4-year-old, standard poodle was presented to the Ontario Veterinary College for a 3-week history of a moist, productive cough that was first noted while boarding at a kennel. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed numerous ova identified as Eucoleus aerophilus, previously known as Capillaria aerophila. Clinical signs resolved following treatment with fenbendazole.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis of peripheral nerve sheath tumors in 4 dogs.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was used in establishing the diagnosis in 4 cases of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Sonographic and cytologic characteristics are discussed. Because of its availability and ease of use, axillary ultrasonography with fine needle aspiration can be an initial diagnostic step for suspected brachial plexus tumors.