Analytical Validation of MINI-PET as Point-of-Care for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Measure in Horses

Carolina Pieroni; Andrea Grassi; Marianna Pantoli; Mirko Berretti; Stefano Messina; Chiara Giovannini; George Lubas; Daniela Diamanti

doi:10.1155/2023/9965095

Analytical Validation of MINI-PET as Point-of-Care for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Measure in Horses

Vet Med Int. 2023 Nov 15:2023:9965095. doi: 10.1155/2023/9965095. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Carolina Pieroni¹, Andrea Grassi^{2

3}, Marianna Pantoli², Mirko Berretti¹, Stefano Messina⁴, Chiara Giovannini⁵, George Lubas⁶, Daniela Diamanti¹

Affiliations

¹ DIESSE- Diagnostica Senese S.p.A. Società Benefit, Strada dei Laghi, 35-39, Monteriggioni, Siena, Italy.
² I-Vet Diagnostica Veterinaria, Via Ettore Majorana, 10, Flero, Brescia, Italy.
³ Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Sede Territoriale di Pavia, Str. Privata Campeggi, 59, Pavia, Italy.
⁴ Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, V.le Mario Bracci, 11, Siena, Italy.
⁵ Il Ceppo Equine Hospital, Strada Monteresi 3, Monteriggioni, Siena, Italy.
⁶ Clinica Veterinaria Colombo, VetPartners Italia, V.le Colombo 153, Lido di Camaiore, Lucca, Italy.

Abstract

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a widely used diagnostic assay in human medicine but nowadays poorly applied in veterinary medicine. This test measures the speed (millimeters per hour) at which red blood cells settle in a whole anticoagulated blood tube. In human medicine, high ESR values are associated with various disorders, including infections, rheumatoid arthritis, oncologic diseases, and other inflammatory conditions. The ESR can also be influenced by some factors such as age and gender. In veterinary medicine, the ESR with the Westergren manual method was almost forgotten over the years due to blood consumption and long turn-around time. The instrument MINI-PET, using a modified Westergren method, does not require blood consumption or release waste product and recently has been applied in canine medicine. The aims of the study in the horse were as follows: to establish the appropriate time to read the ESR with the Westergren reference method; to compare the MINI-PET ESR results with the reference technique; to assess the ESR reference intervals with MINI-PET; and to establish the ESR stability from collection at different time points by MINI-PET. Using 150 horses, we established 60 minutes as the appropriate time for ESR reading with the Westergren method. Moreover, ESR results obtained in 8 minutes with MINI-PET showed a good correlation with the Westergren ESR. Reference intervals (RIs) with MINI-PET were established in mm/h for the healthy horses (geldings 18.6-100.1; stallions, 13.8-55.7; and mares 1-73.7) according to the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines. In addition, the ESR stability from the blood collection time was evaluated in the MINI-PET on 15 horses: at room temperature, ESR is stable up to 8 hours and at 4°C up to 24 hours. In conclusion, MINI-PET represents a rapid and reliable tool for measuring ESR in horses, offering a valid option to replace the traditional manual technique.