Evaluation of two point‐of‐care ethylene glycol tests for dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate 2 point‐of‐care ethylene glycol (EG) tests in dogs. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, blinded laboratory evaluation. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Ten healthy adult dogs. INTERVENTIONS: Jugular venipuncture and in vitro evaluation for detection of EG in canine blood. MEASUREMENTS: Whole blood samples were centrifuged and separated, and the plasma was divided into 30 aliquots. The aliquots were mixed with EG to provide EG concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 mg/dL. The EG concentration of each sample was confirmed using gas chromatography. For the VetSpec EG Qualitative Reagent Test Kit, 100 μL of each sample was added to test vials and compared with 20 and 50 mg/dL reference vials. For the Kacey EG Test Strips, 20 μL of each sample was added to the test circle and compared with the color chart provided by the manufacturer. For each test, samples were prepared in groups of 5 and presented in randomized order to 2 readers who were blinded to the presumed EG concentration. Samples were scored as negative, 20–50 mg/dL, or greater than 50 mg/dL. For each test, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting EG was calculated. Cohen's unweighted kappa coefficient was calculated to determine the degree of agreement between readers. MAIN RESULTS: For detecting EG, the Kacey EG Test Strips had excellent sensitivity and specificity (both 100%) and good agreement between readers. The VetSpec EG Qualitative Reagent Test Kit was less sensitive and specific (65% and 70% for the first reader, 95% and 40% for the second) with less agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Of the 2 systems evaluated, the Kacey EG Test Strips displayed greater accuracy and ease of use.