Comparison of point-of-care analysis using Coaguchek XS and standard laboratory-measured prothrombin time in dogs

Abstract AIMS: The Coaguchek XS is a hand-held coagulation monitor, which is widely available for human testing, and could have applications for canine samples. The aim of this study was a preliminary evaluation of the suitability of this point-of-care device to determine prothrombin time (PT) in dogs by measuring the clinical agreement between the results obtained using the device and standard laboratory testing. METHODS: The PT in 24 samples from 13 dogs with suspected coagulopathy and 40 samples from 40 healthy dogs was determined concurrently using the point-of-care device and standard laboratory analysis. The clinical agreement between methods was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis and error grid analysis. RESULTS: Four of the paired samples were not suitable for analysis. The point-of-care device showed a 1.29 fold positive systematic bias which, when corrected for, gave excellent clinical agreement. Differences in the results obtained would have influenced clinical decision making in only 3 of 60...