Overview

• Measuring plasma levels of nutrients, metabolites, enzymes, etc, can provide general or specific data about organ function and disease processes.
• Parameters measured include:
  • Total protein Blood biochemistry: total protein.
  • Albumin Blood biochemistry: albumin.
  • Total globulin.
  • Alpha, beta, gamma globulins.
  • Sodium.
  • Potassium Blood biochemistry: potassium.
  • Chloride Blood biochemistry: chloride.
  • Bicarbonate.
  • Calcium Blood biochemistry: calcium.
  • Phosphate Blood biochemistry: phosphate.
  • Copper.
  • Cobalt.
  • Selenium.
  • Lead.
  • Iron.
  • Urea Blood biochemistry: urea.
  • Creatinine.
  • Ammonia.
  • Glucose Blood biochemistry: glucose.
  • Fructosamine.
  • Bile acids Blood biochemistry: bile acids.
  • Bilirubin - direct; and total Blood biochemistry: total bilirubin.
  • Cholesterol Blood biochemistry: cholesterol.
  • Total lipids.
  • Triglycerides.
  • Glycerol.
  • Free fatty acids.
  • Creatinine phosphokinase.
  • Lactate dehydrogenase Blood biochemistry: lactate dehydrogenase.
  • Aspartate amino transferase Blood biochemistry: aspartate aminotransferase.
  • Alanine amino transferase Blood biochemistry: alanine aminotransferase (SGPT, ALT).
  • Gammaglutamyl transferase Blood biochemistry: gammaglutamyl transferase.
  • Alkaline phosphatase Blood biochemistry: alkaline phosphatase.
  • Alpha-amylase.
  • Lipase.
  • Trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TL).
  • Acid phosphatase.
  • Glutathione peroxidase.
  • Glutamate dehydrogenase.
  • Hormones: cortisol, thyroxine; parathyroid hormone.
  • Vitamin B12.
  • Folate.
  • Para-aminobenzoic acid.
  • C reactive protein.

Sampling

Tests

Methodologies

• A number of different methodologies may be available for any given test.

Availability

• Many tests are routinely available - if in doubt, contact the laboratory to confirm availability of a specific test.

Validity

Sensitivity

• The percentage of diseased animals with abnormal results.

Specificity

• The percentage of non-diseased animals with normal results.

Predictive value

• How well the test performs in a given population of animals (the probability that the result reflects the true status of the animal).

Technique (intrinsic) limitations

• In general, results of any given test are most significant when interpreted in conjunction with other laboratory and clinical findings.

Result Data

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
  Hein J, Spreyer F, Sauter-Louis C et al (2012) Reference ranges for laboratory parameters in ferrets. Vet Rec 171, 218 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Fudge A M (1999) Laboratory Medicine. Avian and Exotic Pets. W B Saunders Co. ISBN: 0721 676 790.