Comparative analysis of i-STAT Alinity v Chems+ cartridge and commercial laboratory blood biochemical analysis in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in the Republic of Congo

Citation

Vallandingham SA, Moresco A, Feltrer-Rambaud Y, Larsen M, Tollefson TN, Atencia R, and Ange-van Heughten K. 2023. Comparative analysis of i-STAT Alinity v Chems+ cartridge and commercial laboratory blood biochemical analysis in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in the Republic of Congo. In Brooks M, Fidgett A, Kendrick E, Treiber K Eds. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Hybrid.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the values of eight nutrition-related blood parameters obtained with different analytical methods in a population of 44 sanctuary chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) residing in a forest environment in a range country in the Republic of the Congo (RoC). In December 2021, blood samples were collected from chimpanzees during routine health exams, and biochemical analyses were conducted using two different local RoC human commercial laboratories and an investigator owned hand-held analyzer (i-STAT® Alinity V) used on location at the sanctuary. The biochemical parameters measured and examined included: blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose (GLU), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), triglycerides (TG), hematocrit (HCT), and hemoglobin (Hb). BUN, creatinine, GLU, HCT, and Hb were compared between the i-STAT Alinity V and Lab 1 while Ca, P, and triglycerides were compared between the two RoC labs. The five i-STAT parameters did not differ from Lab 1 (P > 0.05). It should be noted that BUN was below i-STAT detectable limits (< 3.0). Thus, Lab 1 (0.94 ± 0.090 mmol/L) and the i-STAT could not have directly comparable results although both indicated very low values for primates. However, Ca (mmol/L), P (mmol/L), and TG (mmol/L), differed between the two RoC lab with values of 2.1 ± 0.02 and 2.2 ± 0.02 (P = 0.0008), 1.5 ± 0.04 and 1.4 ± 0.04 (P = 0.0220), and 0.5 ± 0.07 and 1.3 ± 0.06 (P = 0.001), respectively. TG values were the most numerically different while Ca and P likely have no clinical difference medically. These data suggest that, in chimpanzee research, the i-STAT Alinity V may be a reliable and convenient tool for field work, based on its portability, real-time analysis capabilities, and consistency with laboratory analysis. Additionally, the analyses from available human laboratories may need to be further investigated.

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