A rapid method for determination of blood glucose concentration in cattle.

OBJECTIVE

To determine an accurate rapid method for determination of blood glucose concentration in cattle under field conditions.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

ANIMALS

62 clinically normal Holstein cattle: 34 cows and 28 calves.

PROCEDURE

Glucose concentrations in venous blood samples were measured in duplicate using a rapid, dry-slide chemistry technique for determination of blood glucose concentration and a laboratory-based method for determination of plasma glucose concentration. Analyses of variance were used to determine whether the relationship between results of the 2 methods was affected by the status of the animals (cows vs calves) or the PCV of the blood samples. Simple linear regression was performed to determine the correlation between the 2 methods and the slope, intercept, and residual error variance of the relationship between the methods.

RESULTS

There as a significant linear relationship between the 2 methods throughout the range of glucose concentrations. Mean difference between results of the 2 methods (results for laboratory-based method - results for rapid method) was 12.95 mg/dl (SD, 7.20 mg/dl). The PCV did not affect the relationship, and there was no difference between results of the 2 methods for cows versus calves. Correlation between means of the duplicative values determined by use of the 2 methods was high (r = 0.9462).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The good correlation between the 2 procedures and the comparable precision estimates (coefficient of variation, 7.17% for laboratory-based method; coefficient of variation, 10.11% for rapid methods) indicates that using the rapid method to measure blood glucose concentration is valid in cows and calves.