Serum fructosamine in canine diabetes mellitus. An initial study.

This study reports on a spectrophotometric assay for the determination of serum fructosamine concentration. The assay was evaluated for use in canine serum samples by assessment of the precision, accuracy, detectability and stability of serum fructosamine during storage. To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of the assay, both the effect of acute changes in blood glucose on serum fructosamine concentration and the serum fructosamine concentration in canine diabetes mellitus and other canine diseases were studied. The main conclusions can be summarized as follows: Determination of canine serum fructosamines may be achieved by a precise and accurate assay with a detection limit well below the serum fructosamine concentration normally found in canine sera. Storage for 5 days at +4 degrees C or +25 degrees C, or for 28 days at -20 degrees C caused no significant change in serum fructosamine concentration. The concentration is not affected by acute changes in blood glucose. In diabetic dogs, serum fructosamine concentration is significantly greater than in dogs with other diseases.