Falsely increased plasma lactate concentration due to ethylene glycol poisoning in 2 dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To describe false increases in plasma lactate concentration measured on point-of-care analyzers in 2 dogs with ethylene glycol (EG) intoxication.


METHODS
Two dogs presenting with EG intoxication had extreme increases of plasma lactate concentrations recorded on a point-of-care machine. Laboratory analysis by spectrophotometry of lactate concentration determined these lactate measurements to be erroneous. False increases in plasma lactate concentration were demonstrated in 2 out of 3 point-of-care machines tested.


CONCLUSIONS
Glycolate, a toxic metabolite of EG, can interfere with the measurement of plasma lactate by some analyzers and this may delay the correct diagnosis of EG toxicity if not recognized.
Department of Veterinary Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. khopper@ucdavis.edu
Kate
K
Hopper
Steven E
SE
Epstein
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004285:Dogs; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000506:poisoning*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*
D019344:Lactic Acid; D019855:Ethylene Glycol