Approach to the interchangeability of the clinical veterinary laboratory methods

Objectives: to evaluate the reliability of a new dry chemistry apparatus (Fuji Dri-chem 4000i, Fujifilm, Japan) in diagnosis decision making in (ambulatory) veterinary laboratory medicine. Methods: Comparison between results obtained by a traditional (wet chemistry) apparatus (Cobas integra® 400 plus, Roche Diagnostics Ltd., Switzerland) with the results obtained with the “new” dry chemistry apparatus (Fuji Dri-chem 4000i, Fujifilm, Japan). Results: Results show the importance to determine normal reference range for each technique/apparatus/instrument “de novo” introduced in laboratory practice. Comparison between the two methods (not by a “validation” but by a clinical pertinence point of view) stress that the overlapping of the performance is relating to some test, but not for all the parameters determined. Clinical significance: In the clinical practice it is important can rely on reliable laboratory results. For this aim is not necessary to validate instrument or methods (the companies already do that), but it is important to know if a new method introduced in the practice perform in the same manner as the old one. In this work, the two instruments utilized gave different results for some parameters: this is only due to the different method employed (wet chemistry vs dry chemistry) and are characteristic of the instruments. This means that the instruments work in different manner and not that one is better than the other. Clinician has to know this in order to support a suspected clinical diagnosis with an accurate laboratory diagnosis.