Assessment of a point-of-care instrument for identification of primary hemostatic disorders in dogs

To assess a point-of-care instrument for identification of primary hemostatic disorders in dogs. 29 healthy dogs and 23 nonanemic dogs with primary hemostatic disorders (thrombocytopenia, n = 6; thrombopathia, 6; von Willebrand disease [vWD], 11). Citrated blood was obtained and closure times (CT) were determined by measuring the time required for occlusion of an aperture by a platelet plug within the point-of-care instrument. Reference ranges for CT were established, and CT were determined for dogs with primary hemostatic disorders. CT measured with adenosine diphosphate as the platelet agonist (ADP-CT) ranged from 52 to 86 seconds for healthy dogs (mean +/- 2 SD, 67 +/- 7.8 seconds; median, 65 seconds), and CT measured with epinephrine as the agonist (EPI-CT), from 97 to 225 seconds (151 +/- 38 seconds; 148 seconds). In thrombocytopenic dogs, ADP- and EPI-CT were prolonged (> 165 and > 264 seconds, respectively). Five of 6 dogs with thrombopathia had prolonged ADP-CT, whereas EPI-CT was prolonged in all 6 dogs. In all dogs with vWD, ADP-CT was prolonged; EPI-CT was prolonged in 10 of these dogs. Sensitivity and specificity for ADP-CT were 95.7 and 100%, respectively, and positive and negative predictive values, 100 and 96.7%, respectively, whereas for EPI-CT, these values were 95.7 and 82.8%, respectively, and 81.5 and 96%, respectively. The point-of-care instrument allowed quick assessment of primary hemostasis in nonanemic dogs. Use of this instrument may be helpful for making decisions regarding management of dogs with primary hemostatic disorders.