Lit Clin Path

Question 1

A commercially available veterinary POC Hct meter had ….. (good/moderate/poor) agreement with a lab-based analyzer when measuring Hct & Hb concentrations in cats & dogs.
The POC meter failed to read in patients that were moderate to markedly ….. with a Hct range of ………

Answer 1

Thevelein JAVMA 2021
Good
Anemic, 12-17%

Question 2

Superficial swabs of open wounds in dogs using the Levine technique was a/an …..(reliable/unreliable) technique, and had a positive culture yield of …..% compared to ….% for tissue biopsy cultures.
Differences between superficial swab & tissue cultures resulted in different treatment decisions in …..% cases.

Answer 2

Stokes JAVMA 2021
Reliable - negative result likely can be trusted.
77%, 85%.
13%.

Question 3

When evaluating for glucosuria in dogs & cats, urine dipstick readings had high ….. but low …..
Urine dipstick was a more accurate method for detect glucosuria in …. (cats/dogs) with an accuracy of ….% vs …..%

Urine glucose to creatinine ratio (UGCR) was …….(useful/not useful) in addition to dipstick for detecting glucosuria.

Answer 3

Alridge JAVMA 2020
Specificity (98-99%)
Sensitivity (23% D, 68% C)
Cats - accuracy 92% vs 60% (D)
Not useful - incomplete distinction between dipstick categories for [glucose] & UCGR (lots of overlap)

Question 4

What was the level of agreement between results of urine samples stored in preservative-containing tubes at room temp vs refrigerated samples in plain tubes at 24-72hrs?

Answer 4

Aulakj JAVMA 2020
Similar results for all physical variables (except colour) at 24hrs, & all biochemical variables with storage up to 72hrs.

If delay in UA expected, storing urine samples in preservative-containing
tubes at room temp may be a viable option.

Question 5

What coagulation factors are increased in ascites fluid of dogs compared to plasma?

Answer 5

Zoia JVIM 2017
HIGHER D dimers & FDP. LOWER fibrinogen.
Indicates **coagulation activation & fibrinolytic activity, ** which occurs independent of underlying cause of effusion.

Question 6

What is the Sn/Sp of renal FNAs for detection of neoplastic vs non-neoplastic diseases?
For what disease are renal FNAs most useful (highest Sn)?

Answer 6

McAloney JAVMA 2018
72% diagnostic samples (similar to other organs).
Neoplastic - Sn 78%, Sp 50%. Non-neoplastic - Sn 50%, Sp 77%.
Lymphoma (Sn 100%)

Question 7

How did the Heska benchtop dry chemistry analyzer perform diagnostically when measuring ammonium concentrations in canine plasma?

Answer 7

Funes JAVMA 2018
Overall strong agreement with reference method; 97% correctly classified, 1 sample tested normal when actually high.

Question 8

How does PCV affect glucose measurements on POC glucometers?

Answer 8

Lane JAVMA 2019
Lower PCV –> overestimates glucose. Study establisehd a correction formula which reduced discordance between POC & lab glucose measurements.

Question 9

What was a key difference in signalment between cats & dogs presenting with chyloabdomen? What was a common co-morbidity & diagnosis?
What factor was associated with poorer survival in these patients?

Answer 9

Hatch JAVMA 2018
Age (cats 11.3y, dogs 6.9y).

Chylothorax (47%), malignant neoplasia most common dx 45%.

Associated with malignant neoplasia (MST 8d vs 73d in patients w/o neoplasia).

Question 10

What indicators on peripheral blood/abdominal fluid may be useful to predict septic perionitis in dogs after intestinal sx?

Answer 10

Guieu JAVMA 2016
Lower abdo fluid WBCC, higher blood-to-fluid WBCC & Np ratios at D3 post-op.
(Note small study so didn’t draw definitive conclusions)