title: Evaluation of a point-of-care portable analyzer for measurement of plasma immunoglobulin G, total protein, and albumin concentrations in ill neonatal foals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the diagnostic performance of a point-of-care (POC) analyzer with that of established methods for the measurement of plasma IgG, total protein, and albumin concentrations in neonatal foals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation study.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 neonatal foals < 7 days of age. Procedures-Plasma IgG, total protein, and albumin concentrations were measured with a POC analyzer via an immunoturbidimetric method. Corresponding measurements of plasma IgG, total protein, and albumin concentrations were measured by means of automated biochemical analyzers via automated immunoturbidimetric, biuret, and bromocresol green dye-binding assays, respectively (standard laboratory methods).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity and specificity of the POC analyzer for detection of failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPTI) in foals were 80.7% and 100%, respectively, when FPTI was defined as a plasma IgG concentration < 400 mg/dL and were 75.9% and 100%, respectively, when FPTI was defined as a plasma IgG concentration < 800 mg/dL. The POC analyzer overestimated plasma albumin concentrations and, to a lesser extent, plasma total protein concentrations, compared with values determined with the standard laboratory methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggested the POC analyzer was acceptable for determination of plasma IgG and total protein concentrations in ill foals. The POC analyzer overestimated plasma albumin concentration such that its use was clinically unacceptable for the determination of that concentration. The POC analyzer provided timely measurements of plasma IgG concentrations, which is necessary information for the assessment of passive transfer of maternal antibodies to neonatal foals.
authors: Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. dwong@iastate.edu
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Wong
authors: Steeve
authors: S
authors: Giguère
authors: Mara A
authors: MA
authors: Wendel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D006736:Horses; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012709:Serum Albumin