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Get the most value out of your
IDEXX VetLab® system Special Edition
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Help Avoid Anesthetic Complications
Run a complete blood count on every preanesthetic patient
by Fred Metzger, DVM, DABVP
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Thanks to increased client awareness
and compliance, preanesthetic testing
is not only practical and accepted, it
is expected. The results benefit
everyone as they decrease client
anxiety, improve anesthetic safety,
establish baseline data and increase
your practice’s financial health.
Most practices offer or require a full
diagnostic workup, including a chemistry
panel, electrolytes and a complete blood
count (CBC) for older patients undergoing
anesthesia for elective procedures. However,
for younger, well patients, many practices opt
to perform only a packed cell volume (PCV)
for a hematology profile.
A CBC provides a broad overview of the
general health status of a patient. Platelet,
erythrocyte and leukocyte abnormalities should be evaluated prior to anesthesia
for several important reasons, even with young, generally well patients that appear
healthy during the physical evaluation.
Thrombocytopenia is the most common bleeding disorder in veterinary medicine,
and platelets must be evaluated in every preanesthetic profile because the
consequences can be life-threatening in surgical or dental procedures. Leukocytosis may be associated with inflammation or a stress response,
and may intensify following routine dental or surgical procedures. Leukopenic and neutropenic patients may have difficulty in mounting an
effective immune response postoperatively. Anemic patients are more prone to tissue hypoxia, which increases the
likelihood of anesthetic complications.  Polycythemia most commonly results from dehydration. Dehydration may
cause hypotension and result in complications, especially when coupled
with blood loss and the vasodilatory effects of many anesthetic agents.
Run preanesthetics in-house
Preanesthetic testing should be performed immediately prior to
anesthesia to properly evaluate a patient’s status and adjust anesthetic agents
or protocols.
Client compliance increases when preanesthetic testing occurs
in-house, maximizing client convenience and ensuring the patient
has been fasted for the best possible results. Hematology samples should be analyzed as soon as possible to prevent
artifacts created by exposure to anticoagulants and cell deterioration. Platelet counts should be performed within one hour after collection for
optimal results. CBC results will change over time; the PCV and MCV may increase from
swelling of erythrocytes, the MCHC may decrease, and platelets may
continue to clump, possibly causing inaccurate results.
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Make a Note
Your LaserCyte® Hematology Analyzer now
has species-specific mix times.
With LaserCyte® software version 1.60, samples will now mix for different
periods of time, depending upon the species of the patient, to ensure that
the cells in the sample are adequately mixed prior to analysis. The different
mix times accommodate the different sedimentation rates for each species.
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Meet Nicole Cyr
Customer Support Consultant
Nicole has been at IDEXX since
September of 2001, when she
started as a customer support agent
level I. Since then she has become
knowledgeable about IDEXX’s
entire line of products, with her
primary focus being the LaserCyte®
Hematology Analyzer, The
VetStat® Electrolyte and Blood
Gas Analyzer, and the new IDEXX
VetLab® Station.
Today, Nicole is a customer support
consultant IV, providing customers
with answers and technical support
over the telephone for all of their
in-house diagnostic laboratory
equipment. She is currently her
team’s content expert for the
VetStat® analyzer.
“As a member of IDEXX’s 24/7
support team, I’m proud to help
veterinarians by ensuring they can
count on us to provide the quality of
support they’re used to at any time
of the day or night,” says Nicole.
Nicole lives in Maine with her
husband, son and two dogs, a
dachshund named Charlie, and
Grover, a springer spaniel. She
enjoys activities with her son as a
Cub Scout leader and as part of the
Boy Scout committee for their local
troop. She and her family also like
hiking, biking, skiing and camping.
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Techincal Tips for LaserCyte® Users
Whole-Blood Sample Preparation
Follow these steps for whole-blood sample collection for the
LaserCyte® analyzer.
- Use the IDEXX VetCollect® tube and a syringe or
Vacutainer® collection system with the appropriate gauge
needle for the patient. Be sure to fill the tube with the
required
0.5–1 mL of blood.
- Draw the sample gently and transfer if necessary:
- If using a syringe, immediately transfer the sample to
the IDEXX VetCollect tube.
- Push the syringe needle through the rubber stopper of
the vacuum collection tube.
- The vacuum will draw the correct sample volume. If
the blood does not initially flow into the tube, lightly
depress the syringe plunger to start the sample flowing.
- Use at least a 21-gauge needle to ensure that the red
blood cells are not damaged during the transfer from
syringe to tube.
- Gently invert the tube for 30 seconds to mix.
Note: If the cap is removed from the EDTA tube for any
reason, it should be vented by inserting a needle through the
stopper to allow air pressure to equilibrate before placing it
into the analyzer.
VetCollect® Advantage
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 Back Up Your Patient Data
Regular weekly backup of your patient database is recommended.
The IDEXX VetLab® Station (LaserCyte) computer has a CD drive so
that you can copy your patient database onto a CD-R disk. Each time a
data backup is performed, a complete copy of the database is duplicated.
The same disc can be used multiple times, but because the files are not
overwritten, the disc will eventually become full. When the disc becomes
full, the computer prompts you to insert a blank CD-R. After you have
performed the data backup with a new disc, it is not necessary to save the
previous disc.
To perform a data backup, tap the Instruments button and then tap the
Back Up button. Insert a CD-R and follow the on-screen instructions. |
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IDEXX VetLab® Station Tools
Interpretive guides for many of the IDEXX VetLab® parameters are available.
The interpretive guides offer valuable background
information regarding the individual parameters of the
test results.
This information is easily printable and can be
particularly helpful in explaining diagnostic results to
your clients. For example, the diagnostic implications of
a low hematocrit level can be explored by clicking the
HCT link on the IDEXX VetLab Station touch screen, as
seen below.
To access the interpretive guides:
- Tap Records on the IDEXX VetLab Station Home
screen, select the desired patient and tap View
Records.
- On the Select Results screen, select the desired
test results and tap View Results
- On the Test Results screen, tap an underlined
parameter to view its interpretive guide.
- Tap Print Page if you want to print the information.
- Tap Close Window to close the interpretive guide
and return to the Test Results screen.
Make the most of the
parameter-trending
feature of your
IDEXX VetLab® Station.
Creating graphs of particular test results over a
period of time can provide valuable information
regarding a patient’s health, the efficacy of treatment
or disease progression.
If you’re practice isn’t already using the trending
feature for your in-house diagnostic results on
your IDEXX VetLab Station, here’s how you can
graph your hematology, chemistry, electrolyte and
endocrinology results over time:
To graph test results:
- Tap Records on the IDEXX VetLab Station Home
screen, select the desired patient and tap View
Records.
- On the Select Results screen, select the desired
test results and tap Trend.
- On the Select Parameters screen, select two to six
parameters to graph and tap Trend.
- The selected parameters are then graphed from
the earliest test to the most recent.
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IDEXX
Customer Support is available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Toll-free: 1-800-248-2483
Fax: 1-800-248-3010
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