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Haematology and blood biochemistry in the horse: a guide to interpretation
Author(s) -
Barrelet Annalisa,
Ricketts Sidney
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inpract.24.6.318
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care medicine , biochemistry , blood sampling , hematologic tests , diagnostic test , medical physics , interpretation (philosophy) , pathology , hematology , veterinary medicine , computer science , environmental health , population , health services , programming language
THE use of laboratory tests as an aid to the diagnosis of clinical problems has become commonplace in equine practice, and should be considered an integral part of the total management of a case. The indications for blood sampling are many and varied, but it is important to realise the limitations of laboratory results ‐ there is no substitute for a thorough clinical examination. Clinicians should therefore guard against relying too heavily on test results for a diagnosis and, rather, clinical pathology should be used as an ancillary aid. This article reviews the interpretation of basic haematological and blood biochemical tests which are available to the equine practitioner.