La determinazione dell'emogramma e del fibrinogeno nel cane, gatto e cavallo tramite il QBC® VetAutoreadTM System

he QBC® Vet AutoreadTM System is the most recent tool devoted to veterinary hematology based on the quantitative analysis of the Buffy Coat. In fact, thanks to the use of a special tube, with an inside floating probe, where the blood is placed with an anticoagulant, and then centrifuged, the layer of the Buffy Coat expands and makes more evident the stratification of the several cellular populations. The AutoreaderTM carries out the automated scanning of the tube, analyses the obtained data, and displays the results either numerically, on a bar graph as well as on a histogram. The histogram is the so-called Buffy Coat Profile, that supplies important additional informa- tion on the various cells that characterise the analysed sample. In some cases the obtained results are preceded or followed by signals of alarm or by messages of error, that should deserve the maximum attention at the reading of the results. With the QBC® Vet AutoreadTM System up to 12 hematological parameters can be determined (Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, MCHC, number of Leukocytes, absolute and relative number of Neutrophils, absolute and relative number of Lymphocytes and Monocytes, number of Platelets, num- ber of Eosinophils, percentage of Reticulocytes and presence of Nucleated Erythrocytes). Thanks to the presence of a heating device it is also possible to measure the Fibrinogen content. The present work analysed 180 samples of blood with K3 EDTA, collected from 100 dogs, 40 horses and 40 cats. Part of the analysed samples were from healthy animals (47 dogs, 35 horses, and 25 cats). The remainder samples (53 dogs, 5 horses, and 15 cats) presen- ted various hematological alterations among which regenerative and non regenerative anemia, neutrophilia, eosinophilia, lympho- monocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. After a preliminary study of the effects on sample storage, the eva- luation of the instrument was undertaken, considering linearity, precision and accuracy. The QBC® Vet AutoreadTM System had overall, a good level of linearity, precision and accuracy. At the same time this device is simple to operate and is easy to maintain. These features make it a valuable tool in a basic veterinary facility or in an emergency situation, because it can supply reliable information on the hema- tological status of the patient