title: Evaluation of the i-STAT hand-held chemical analyser during treadmill and endurance exercise.
abstract: This study examined the accuracy and precision of a hand-held, chemical analyser, i-STAT, in measuring selected blood constituents which may be of use in the diagnosis and management of metabolic disorders found in exercising horses. Venous blood samples were taken from 3 Thoroughbred geldings, fit and trained to exercise on a treadmill, both before and after exercise at a speed sufficient to elicit VO2max. The samples were analysed both with the i-STAT and with in-house analysers to compare the values of pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), bicarbonate (HCO3), lactate and base excess (BE). The i-STAT demonstrated acceptable accuracy and precision for determination of pH, PO2 and PCO2, and lactate. We concluded that these parameters could be reliably evaluated by the i-STAT. The i-STAT was further evaluated at veterinary checkpoints during a 60 and 100 mile endurance ride. Because a built-in thermostat prevents function when the temperature of the analyser is outside the optimum range (16-30 degrees C), it was necessary to insulate the i-STAT from extreme ambient temperatures. As this portion of the study was conducted in warm temperatures, the appropriate insulation was to maintain the i-STAT in an ice-cooled container except during actual blood analyses. Further investigation into the feasibility of using hand-held chemical analysers at the veterinary checkpoints during endurance rides is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Birks
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000662:veterinary; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010313:Partial Pressure; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D007773:Lactates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen