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Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the dog and cat: Comparison of two methods and influence of packed cell volume, temperature and storage of blood
Author(s) -
JAIN N. C.,
KONO CONSTANCE S.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1975.tb05793.x
Subject(s) - erythrocyte sedimentation rate , capillary action , medicine , zoology , blood volume , red blood cell , nuclear medicine , veterinary medicine , biology , materials science , composite material
Erythrocyte sedimentation rates of canine and feline blood were measured by the Wintrobe method and by a capillary method utilizing 75 times 1 mm microhaematocrit tubes. Results obtained with each method were generally similar for both species. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) with the Wintrobe method as well as with the capillary method was inversely related to the packed cell volume (PCV), i. e., the lower the PCV, the higher the ESR. However, there was no consistent relationship between the ESR values obtained by the two methods at all levels of PCV. Wintrobe ESR values were slightly higher than capillary tube values for canine blood having a PCV of 36‐60% and for ‘reconstituted’ canine and feline bloods having a high PCV. In contrast, capillary tube ESR values were slightly higher than Wintrobe values for ‘reconstituted’ canine blood having a PCV of 8‐38 % and for feline blood with a PCV below 30%. It was, therefore, concluded that ESR values obtained by the two methods cannot be considered equivalent. Only a slight decrease occurred in the ESR of blood held at 4°C for 2‐6 hours, whereas the ESR of blood held at room temperature dropped markedly and blood stored for 24 hours at either temperature consistently gave lower values. Therefore, it is recommended that if the ESR cannot be determined soon after sampling, the blood should be stored at 4°C and the test conducted within 6 hours.