Evaluation of four point-of-care meters for rapid determination of blood lactate concentrations in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether blood lactate values determined in dogs with 4 commercially available point-of-care meters were in agreement with values determined with a critical care laboratory blood analyzer. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 50 dogs evaluated for emergency treatment. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected at initial evaluation and processed on 4 point-of-care meters and on a critical care laboratory blood analyzer. RESULTS: All 4 point-of-care lactate meters generated measurements that were in agreement with the hospital's critical care analyzer. Values for agreement (bias) between the 4 point-of-care meters and the critical care analyzer were -0.652 (limits of agreement LA, -1.958 to 0.654]), -0.670 (LA, -2.110 to 0.769), -0.096 (LA, -2.071 to 1.879), and -0.498 (LA, -2.616 to 1.620), respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Despite its prognostic and therapeutic relevance, blood lactate measurement in dogs has been hampered by the inability to perform the test in a timely fashion. Results of the present study indicated that several handheld point-of-care lactate meters provided results that were in agreement with a laboratory critical care blood analyzer.