title: Analytic validation of commercially available immunoassays for the measurement of serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in pigs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cobalamin (vitamin B12 ) and folate (vitamin B9 ) are important for the amino acid metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis. Immunoassays for the measurement of both vitamins in serum are routinely used in people, cats, and dogs, serving as indicators for clinical disorders including cobalamin and/or folate deficiency, small intestinal dysbiosis, or inadequate dietary supply of these vitamins. The analysis of these analytes may also be clinically useful in pigs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analytically validate immunoassays for the measurement of cobalamin and folate concentrations in porcine serum, and to determine serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in healthy newborn pigs pre- and postweaning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assay validation for both vitamins included the determination of linearity, accuracy, and intra- and inter-assay variability using serum samples from 10 pigs. Also, serum cobalamin and folate concentrations were compared in piglets between pre- and postweaning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For both vitamins, observed-to-expected ratios for linearity and accuracy were 93.2 ± 14.3% and 100.3 ± 8.1% (mean ± standard deviation), respectively. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation for serum were ≤ 8.7% and ≤12.5%, respectively. Significantly higher serum cobalamin and lower folate concentrations were observed in piglets at the time of weaning than at postweaning (P < .0061; P < .0001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both immunoassays are linear, accurate, precise, and reproducible for measurement of porcine serum cobalamin and folate concentrations. Piglets differing in age by only 12 days had significantly different serum cobalamin and folate concentrations. The implications of differing serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in pigs at different stages of life should be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grützner
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Darrel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Lawhorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.affiliation: New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kauffold
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suchodolski
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jörg M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Plasma; sera; swine; vitamin B12; vitamin B9