Comparison of Electrophoretic and Bromocresol Green Albumin Methods in Chickens and Other Veterinary Species.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The bromocresol green albumin assay (ALB) has been used in birds and reportedly is noncomparable with electrophoretic albumin (ALB) in many species. It is accepted for use in some species and rejected in others. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the performance of ALBand ALBmethods within backyard chickens and compare the performance of ALBin chickens with other veterinary species where the ALBmethod is accepted and used clinically. METHODS: Chicken plasma collected during reference interval development and samples submitted for diagnostic biochemistry profile were evaluated using the ALBand ALBassays. Method comparison was performed according to current recommendations, including the use of Passing-Bablok and Bland-Altman analysis. ALBand ALBwere also measured in other avian species, dogs, cats, horses, and domestic ruminants. Method comparison was evaluated within and between species, including clinical utility based on the percentage of cases discordantly interpreted as hypo-, normo-, or hyperalbuminemic by ALBand ALB. RESULTS: In chickens, ALBand ALBwere not comparable, having a constant bias (-0.4 g/dL) and proportional bias. Similarly, the methods were not comparable in other species; > 10% of samples had > TE(15%) difference in all species. The clinical utility of albumin interpretation in chickens did not differ significantly from that in dogs and horses, as determined by ANOVA. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that ALBis not comparable with ALBand performs similarly across all tested species. There is no evidence to support the continued rejection of the ALBin chicken and other avians and acceptance in some mammals.