Table 5.
Published feline reference intervals (RIs) for plasma biochemical parameters (measured using dry reagents) in 139 healthy Maine Coon cats 7
| Analyte | Published Maine Coon RIs 7 | Outsider RI (%) | Maine Coon RI (this study) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creatinine (µmol/l) | 77–192 | 55 | 35.4–150.3 |
| Urea (mmol/l) | 6.1–11.2 | 85 | 5.8–24.2 |
| ALT (U/l) | 24–103 | 35 | 8.1–72.9 |
| ALP (U/l) | 28–107 | 10 | 14.1–110.0 |
| Phosphate (mmol/l) | 0.90–2.79 | 5 | 0.9–1.8 |
| Total protein (g/l) | 59–85 | 0 | 51–87 |
| Albumin (g/dl) | 2.3–3.6 | 0 | 2.4–4.1 |
RIs were considered validated if ⩽10% (n = 0–2) of the Maine Coon values fell outside the published reference limits. RIs were rejected if >25% of the reference values (n ⩾5) fell outside the reference limits. If >10% but <25% of the reference values (n = 3–4) fell outside the reference limits, a new set of 20 animals was randomly selected and their reference values compared with the RIs. In the new set-up, if ⩽10% of the samples fell outside the RIs, then the laboratory RI was considered validated; otherwise, it was rejected. When the published RI was rejected, a new RI, reported in bold, was established following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines15,16
ALT = alanine aminotransferase; ALP = alkaline phosphatase