A Retrospective Study of 1,098 Blood Samples with Anemia from Adult Cats: Frequency, Classification, and Association with Serum Creatinine Concentration

Abstract

Background

Frequency and classification of anemia in terms of regeneration status and erythrocyte indices are not well described in cats.

Objective

To determine frequency and regenerative status of anemia in samples from adult cats, to assess the sensitivity and specificity of macrocytosis and hypochromasia for detecting regenerative anemia (RA), and to evaluate the association of anemia with increased serum creatinine concentration (SC).

Study Population

Laboratory records from 30,503 blood samples from cats (2003–2011).

Methods

Clinicopathologic data reviewed retrospectively. Anemia defined as hematocrit (Ht) ≤27%, red blood cell count (RBC) ≤5.5 × 10⁶/μL and hemoglobin (Hb) ≤9.0 g/dL. RA defined by manual absolute reticulocyte count >50 × 10³/μL. Macrocytosis was defined as mean corpuscular volume (MCV) >55 fL and hypochromasia as mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) <31 g/dL. Cutoff for increased serum creatinine concentration was 1.6 mg/dL.

Results

Overall, 1,098 of 30,503 blood samples (3.6%) from cats fulfilled criteria for anemia, 633 of 1,098 (57.7%) classified as nonregenerative (NRA) and 465 of 1,098 (42.3%) as regenerative. RBC, Ht, and Hb were significantly lower in the RA compared to NRA group (P < .05). Sensitivity and specificity of the combined high MCV and low MCHC to detect samples with RA were 19.5 and 90.7%. SC was increased in 572 of the 1,098 anemic samples (52.1%) and in 11,121 of 29,405 of nonanemic samples (37.8%).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Majority of anemic samples were classified as NRA. Anemia was more severe in cats with RA. Erythrocyte indices were not sensitive indicators of RA.

Abbreviations

CBC

complete blood count

CKD

chronic kidney disease

CV

coefficient of variation

EDTA

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

Hb

hemoglobin

Ht

hematocrit

MCHC

mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration

MCH

mean corpuscular hemoglobin

MCV

mean corpuscular volume

NRA

nonregenerative anemia

RA

regenerative anemia

RBC

red blood cell count

SC

serum/plasma creatinine concentration

WBC

white blood cell

Anemia is defined as a decrease in hematocrit (Ht), red blood cell count (RBC), or hemoglobin (Hb) concentration below the reference range,1, 2 and is regarded by some authors as common and one of the most frequent hematological abnormalities found in cats.^{1 ,[} 3, 4 ^] The aggregate reticulocyte count has been used to assess the degree of regeneration in anemic cats.5

Regenerative signs are manifested 4–8 days after the onset of hemorrhage or hemolysis,6 unless earlier erythroid precursors are targeted.7 Nonregenerative anemia (NRA) is associated with chronic kidney disease,1, 8, 9 chronic disease or inflammation,10 pure red cell aplasia,7 myeloproliferative syndromes,1 infectious diseases (eg, FeLV),11 and in iron and nutritional deficiencies.1

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) are commonly used to describe erythrocyte populations.6 Some references state that these erythrocyte indices can be used to evaluate regeneration status and that usually NRA is normocytic normochromic, and regenerative anemia (RA) is macrocytic hypochromic,1, 2, 3, 6, 9 but these features often are not observed in practice.2

Published information about anemia in cats is focused on specific causes of anemia and information regarding the frequency of anemia is scarce. There is a large discrepancy among the findings of different studies, and the number of cats included in these studies has ranged from 11 to 194 individuals.^{2 ,[} 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 ^] Only one study was the frequency of anemic cats reported (10% of cats referred to a veterinary clinic). However, no total numbers were given in that study.3 Commonly reported causes of anemia include renal disease,^{2 ,[} 4, 14, 15, 16 ^] anemia of chronic disease or inflammation,^{2 ,[} 4, 13, 14 ^] bleeding,^{2 ,[} 4, 14, 15 ^] hemolysis, and bone marrow abnormalities.^{2 ,[} 4, 13, 15 ^] These causes have been found to occur at different frequencies depending on the study population evaluated. If veterinarians were aware of the frequency of anemia in cats, clinical facilities could be adapted appropriately in terms of diagnostic equipment and therapeutic options. Additionally, to justify investments into research for the development of future therapeutic options, information about disease frequency and contributing factors is needed. Thus, the frequency of anemia and its further characterization are of interest. Although not necessarily representative of an individual cat population, data derived from many laboratory samples could provide reliable information and avoid the need to take samples from cats experimentally. The regeneration status of an anemic patient is important to understand underlying causes, treatment options, and prognosis.2, 3 Erythrocyte MCV and hypochromasia often are used for predicting RA,2, 3 but the sensitivity and specificity of theses indices are largely unknown in cats.

The first aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anemia in a large number of blood samples from cats submitted between 2003 and 2011 to a private referral laboratory and to characterize the anemia as RA or NRA. Additional objectives were to classify the anemic samples in terms of MCV and MCHC and to investigate the diagnostic utility of these indices. In addition, the proportion of blood samples with increased SC was determined in the overall study population and in nonanemic, as well as the NRA and RA samples. The correlation between degree of anemia and SC also was examined.

It was hypothesized that the majority of anemic samples would represent NRA and specific erythrocyte indices would not be indicative of regenerative status.

Material and Methods

Selection of Samples

Data were retrieved retrospectively from the laboratory information system of a private veterinary laboratory for the time period from January 2003 to May 2011. The blood samples were submitted primarily by first opinion veterinarians in and surrounding Vienna (Austria). The reasons for the submission of samples were not known. To be included in the study, samples had to be from cats >1 year of age, and a complete blood count (CBC), and SC concentration had to have been available. The CBC included Ht, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCHC, mean hemoglobin concentration (MCH), white blood cell count, and a 5‐part differential cell count. Exclusion criteria were repeat samples, samples with recorded hemolysis, lipemia or icterus. Only anemic samples with a reticulocyte count were included for further evaluation of anemia. Repeat samples were identified by searching for those records containing the same owner and patient name. Only results from the first CBC were included in the study.

Sample Analysis

Samples for CBC were submitted in tubes containing lithium–heparin or potassium–ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in different volumes. The method and site of blood collection were not known. The samples were approximately 2–48 hours old.

Complete blood count was performed with an automated hematology analyzer³ using impedance technology to measure RBC count and MCV, and a spectrophotometric method to measure Hb. The Ht, MCHC, and MCH were calculated automatically by the analyzer. The aggregate reticulocyte count was determined manually by a microscopic method. Briefly, 100 μL of anticoagulated whole blood was added to 100 μL 3% brilliant cresyl blue⁴ and mixed for 20 minutes. A blood film was prepared and the slide was examined microscopically using a 100× immersion oil objective (total magnification 1,000×). One thousand erythrocytes were evaluated and the percentage of aggregate reticulocytes was determined. Aggregate reticulocytes were defined according to the internal laboratory standard operating procedure as having ≥1 aggregates of reticulum (aggregate defined as ≥3 small granules of reticulum) or >6 small granules of reticulum. The absolute aggregate reticulocyte count then was automatically calculated by the laboratory information system.

Samples for SC measurement were collected at the same time as samples for the CBC. Creatinine concentration was measured in serum or lithium–heparin plasma with an automated biochemistry analyzer (Dimension RxL⁵ ) using the picrate method (modified Jaffe′s reaction; CREA Flex Dimension⁵). Calibrations were performed according to the manufacturer's instructions and internal quality controls were performed daily for both analyzers.

Criteria for Classification

Laboratory internal reference intervals were used in the classification of anemia as RA or NRA. MCV, MCHC, and increased SC were comparable to previous reports.4, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Samples were classified as anemic when Ht ≤ 27% and RBC ≤ 5.5 × 10⁶/μL and Hb ≤ 9 g/dL. Samples were further classified into RA and NRA groups based on the aggregate reticulocyte count. Samples with reticulocyte count >50 × 10³/μL were defined as RA. Erythrocytes were categorized as macrocytic when MCV was >55 fL, as normocytic when MCV was 40–55 fL, and microcytic when MCV was <40 fL. Samples were classified as hyperchromic, when MCHC was >34 g/dL; normochromic, when MCHC was 31–34 g/dL; and hypochromic, when MCHC was <31 g/dL. A SC > 1.6 mg/dL was classified as increased.

Statistical Analysis

All statistical analyses were performed using SAS software package version 9.3.⁶ Data were assessed visually for normality. Normality tests were not used because of the large power of the data set; data are therefore reported both as mean and median. Standard descriptive summary statistics were calculated for the continuous variables Ht, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCHC, reticulocytes, and SC for all samples and for the subgroups of NRA and RA samples. The diagnostic utility of MCV and MCHC was assessed using a 2‐way table. MCV and MCHC were used to calculate the proportions of the various combinations of macrocytic, normocytic, microcytic, hyperchromic, normochromic, and hypochromic samples in the RA and NRA groups. Proportions were compared using a binomial test for equal rates (one‐sample test) and Fisher's exact test (2‐sample test). The 2‐sample t‐test and Wilcoxon rank‐sum test were used to compare means and medians, respectively. The correlation of SC with Ht, RBC, and Hb was investigated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. A P value of <.05 was considered significant.

Results

Overall, 44,904 feline blood samples were submitted during the time period of the study. Initially 7,261 repeat samples and 7,001 samples reported as hemolytic, lipemic, or icteric were excluded. There were 139 feline blood samples that were classified as anemic but for which no reticulocyte count was available and these were excluded from the total study population. The total study population after these exclusions consisted of results from 30,503 blood samples. The reason for sample submission and the site of blood collection could not be determined.

Concerning the total study population, 1,098 of 30,503 blood samples (3.6%) were identified as anemic. Of these, 633 of 1,098 (57.7%) were determined to be NRA and 465 of 1,098 (42.3%) were RA. Figure 1 shows the frequency of anemic samples, the distribution into NRA and RA groups and the frequency of increased SC in the various groups. There was a significantly higher proportion of NRA samples compared to RA samples (binomial test; P < .0001).

Figure 1.

Anemia distribution combined with increased SC. BW, blood work; CBC, complete blood count; SC, serum creatinine; NRA, nonregenerative anemia; RA, regenerative anemia.

The median age of each group (total study population, nonanemic, anemic, NRA, and RA) was 11.0 years (range, 1.0–25.0, 1–25.0, 1.0–21.0, 1.0–20.0, and 1.0–21.0, respectively). There was no significant difference between the age of the nonanemic and anemic groups (P = .59) or between the NRA and RA groups (P = .94; Wilcoxon's rank‐sign test for medians).

Information about sex was missing for 1,293 of 30,503 samples. The remaining study population was composed of 15,377/29,210 (52.6%) males and 13,833/29,210 (47.4%) females. In the anemic group, data on sex were missing for 49/1,098; there were 611/1,049 (58.2%) males, and 438/1,049 (41.8%) females. There was a significantly higher proportion of males than females in the total study population and in all groups (P < .0001; for RA, P = .009; binomial test).

Results for Ht, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCHC, and SC for the anemic, NRA, and RA groups and P‐values for comparison of these analytes are presented in Table 1; results for SC in the nonanemic group also are presented. If just 1 criterion for anemia was set, results were as follows: if the Ht was used as the sole criterion (cutoff: ≤27%) 1,891/30,503 (6.2%) anemic samples were found. If RBC (≤5.5 × 10⁶/μL) was used, 1,443/30,503 (4.7%) anemic samples were detected, and if Hb (≤9 g/dL) was selected, anemia was present in 1,982/30,503 (6.5%) samples.

Table 1.

Results of the mean, SD, median (minimal and maximal ranges) for Ht, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCHC, and SC from the anemic, NRA and RA groups. The P values resulting from comparison of parameters between the RA and NRA group are shown (t‐test for means, Wilcoxon's rank‐sign test for medians).

	Mean ± SD	Median (Min–Max Range)	P Value
			Mean	Median
Hematocrit (%)
Anemic group (n = 1,098)	19.9 ± 4.6	20.7 (5.7–27.0)
NRA (n = 633)	20.1 ± 4.8	21.4 (5.7–27.0)	.006	.0001
RA (n = 465)	19.5 ± 4.3	19.8 (7.1–27.0)
RBC (×106/μL)
Anemic group (n = 1,098)	4.1 ± 1.1	4.4 (0.9–5.5)
NRA (n = 633)	4.2 ± 1.2	4.6 (0.9–5.5)	<.0001	<.0001
RA (n = 465)	3.9 ± 1.0	4.2 (1.0–5.5)
Hemoglobin (g/dL)
Anemic group (n = 1,098)	6.5 ± 1.6	6.8 (1.4–9.0)
NRA (n = 633)	6.7 ± 1.7	7.1 (1.8–9.0)	<.0001	<.0001
RA (n = 465)	6.1 ± 1.5	6.3 (1.4–9.0)
MCV (fL)
Anemic group (n = 1,098)	50.3 ± 9.3	49.0 (31.0–110.0)
NRA (n = 633)	49.8 ± 8.9	48.0 (31.0–103.0)	.029	.003
RA (n = 465)	51.0 ± 9.7	49.0 (31.0–110.0)
MCHC (g/dL)
Anemic group (n = 1,098)	32.4 ± 3.3	32.5 (10.8–53.3)
NRA (n = 633)	33.2 ± 3.1	33.3 (20.5–53.3)	<.0001	<.0001
RA (n = 465)	31.4 ± 3.3	31.4 (10.8–44.4)
Creatinine (mg/dL)
Nonanemic group (n = 29,405)	1.88 ± 1.95	1.50 (0.1–106.00)	<.0001	<.0001
Anemic group (n = 1,098)	3.24 ± 3.27	1.70 (0.30–23.53)
NRA (n = 633)	3.62 ± 3.42	2.10 (0.30–20.20)	<.0001	<.0001
RA (n = 465)	2.72 ± 2.99	1.50 (0.40–23.53)

Ht, hematocrit; RBC, red blood cell count; Hb, hemoglobin; SC, serum/plasma creatinine concentration; SD, standard deviation; NRA, nonregenerative anemia; RA, regenerative anemia; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration.

P < .05 significant.

Classification of the samples with anemia based on MCV and MCHC is presented in Table 2.

Table 2.

Anemic sample distribution based on MCV and MCHC classification in the NRA, RA, and anemic group.

Classification	NRA (n = 633)	RA (n = 465)	Anemic (n = 1,098)
Macrocytic hypochromic	47 (7.4%)	54 (11.6%)	101 (9.2%)
Macrocytic normochromic	37 (5.9%)	31 (6.7%)	68 (6.2%)
Macrocytic hyperchromic	13 (2.1%)	7 (1.5%)	20 (1.8%)
Normocytic normochromic	234 (37.0%)	127 (27.3%)	361 (32.8%)
Normocytic hypochromic	73 (11.5%)	138 (29.7%)	211 (19.2%)
Normocytic hyperchromic	200 (31.6%)	83 (17.9%)	283 (25.8%)
Microcytic hypochromic	4 (0.6%)	12 (2.6%)	16 (1.5%)
Microcytic normochromic	8 (1.2%)	9 (1.9%)	17 (1.6%)
Microcytic hyperchromic	17 (2.7%)	4 (0.8%)	21 (1.9%)

MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; NRA, nonregenerative anemia; RA, regenerative anemia.

Calculation of sensitivity and specificity of high MCV and low MCHC to detect RA disclosed a sensitivity of 19.5% (95% CI, 15.0–24.7%) and specificity of 90.7% (95% CI, 87.8–93.1%). The sensitivity of normocytic normochromic samples to detect NRA was 36.9% (95% CI, 33.2–40.8%) and specificity was 72.7% (95% CI, 68.4–76.7%).

When the frequency of increased SC was investigated, 11,693/30,503 (38.4%) of the total study population were determined as having SC > 1.6 mg/dL. The nonanemic group had an increase in SC in 11,121/29,405 (37.8%) samples. In the anemic group 572/1,098 (52.1%) of samples, in the NRA group 375/633 (59.2%) of samples, and in the RA group 197/465 (42.4%) of samples had SC > 1.6 mg/dL (Fig 1). The proportion of samples with increased SC was higher in the anemic compared to the nonanemic group and in the NRA compared to the RA group (Fisher's exact test, P < .0001 for both). There was no linear correlation between SC and Ht, RBC or Hb. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients for SC and Ht in the anemic, NRA, and RA groups were 0.16, 0.12, and 0.16, respectively. For SC and RBC, correlation coefficients for the anemic, NRA, and RA groups were 0.26, 0.20, and 0.27, respectively. Correlation coefficients for SC and Hb in the anemic, NRA and RA groups were 0.25, 0.21, and 0.23, respectively.

Discussion

The frequency of anemia in this large population of 30,503 blood samples from cats obtained between 2003 and 2011 was 3.6%. If the anemic samples without reticulocyte results (n = 139) were included, frequency would have been 4.0% (1,237/30,642). More than half of the anemic samples were classified as NRA. The anemia was more severe in the RA than in the NRA group. Normocytic normochromic anemia was seen most frequently in NRA and normocytic hypochromic anemia most often in RA samples. The erythrocyte indices MCV and MCHC were insensitive for the diagnosis of RA. An increased SC was seen more frequently in the anemic and NRA groups.

To the authors' knowledge, there are no similar studies examining the frequency of anemia in such a large study population. A previous report investigating the prevalence of anemia at a referral clinic found that 10% of cats were anemic with Hb < 10 g/dL, and 7% of these had a Hb < 8 g/dL and were classified as profoundly anemic.3 This figure is almost twice as high as that found in this study but there is no information about the number of cats included in the previous study nor was their regeneration status described.

Regarding the methodology of this study and previous reports, different reference intervals, cutoffs and parameters for defining anemia have been used so that the results are not entirely comparable. For example, other studies have defined anemia in cats using Ht values of <25–30%.4, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 25

According to the veterinary literature, Ht is the parameter most commonly used for establishing anemia. However, Hb seems to be the analyte most resistant to preanalytical variability.3, 26 Some authors therefore consider Hb as a better indicator for diagnosing anemia than Ht,3, 26 and Hb is used most frequently in studies of humans, followed by Ht.26 To minimize the effects of preanalytical factors, all 3 variables (Ht, RBC and Hb) were combined to define anemia in this study. The combination of all 3 variables is more conservative than using 1 parameter alone so that the number of anemic cats detected in this study is lower than when just using 1 parameter.

In our study, more than half (57%) of the anemic samples were classified as NRA. In a recent study including 180 anemic cats, 31/88 (35.2%) cats had NRA when using an upper reference limit of 15 × 10³/μL for the reticulocyte count and 17/88 (19.3%) were weakly regenerative (reticulocytes, 16–50 × 10³/μL).4 This limit of 15 × 10³/μL is low and inconsistent with published ranges21, 22 and based on our cutoff of 50 × 10³/μL, 54.5% of cats in that study would have had NRA, similar to our findings.

The discrimination between NRA and RA was based on a manual reticulocyte count. In our study, an aggregate reticulocyte was defined as described in the Material and Methods section. According to the older literature, an aggregate reticulocyte is defined as an RBC containing ≥1 aggregates of reticulum5, 27 whereas in a recent publication aggregate reticulocytes are defined as having more than 15 “dots” or as RBC having ≥1 aggregates of “dots.”28 The authors could not find a precise description or definition of an aggregate of reticulum and our definition was based on the fact that <3 granules cannot form an aggregate. Punctate reticulocyte is defined as having 2–6 small granules of reticulum,5, 27 and therefore an RBC containing >6 granules was defined as an aggregate reticulocyte. It can be difficult to accurately discriminate punctate from aggregate reticulocytes by manual methods in cats.5, 27 The interlaboratory coefficient of variation (CV) of manually determined reticulocyte counts in humans has been reported to be 25.1–48.0% in samples with mean reticulocyte counts ranging from 7.0 to 43.3%.5 Similar results have been obtained for dogs with a CV range from 8.0 to 23.0%, with mean reticulocyte counts from 1.1 to 23.2%.29 No reports for cats were found in the literature, but results for people and dogs are in accordance with our laboratory CV for manual counting of feline aggregate reticulocytes, which is 40.3% for a reticulocyte count of 1.5 and 12.5% for a reticulocyte count of 7.0% (unpublished data). This high imprecision and lack of a standard definition of an aggregate reticulocyte must be kept in mind when interpreting data from different studies.

In this study, more severe anemia was found in the RA than in the NRA group. Because of the retrospective nature of this study, limited clinical information and incomplete laboratory results, no attempt to further determine the cause of anemia was made.

Our study clearly demonstrated that erythrocyte morphology based on indices cannot be used to predict the degree of regeneration because there was a large discrepancy between expected regeneration status based on erythrocyte indices and the reticulocyte count.

Nonregenerative anemia usually is described as being normocytic normochromic.1, 6, 22 The normocytic normochromic morphology was the predominant classification in the NRA group (Table 2), but the poor sensitivity and specificity confirmed the unreliability of erythrocyte indices to detect NRA. Interestingly, there were even a small proportion of samples with macrocytic hypochromic morphology in the NRA group, although this morphology typically is associated with RA.

The same discrepancy between erythrocyte indices and regeneration status also applied to the RA group. A macrocytic hypochromic morphology which is commonly associated with regeneration1, 2, 3, 6, 9 was present in only 11.6% of samples in the RA group. Macrocytic normochromic morphology is also sometimes observed in RA.30 Adding these samples to the macrocytic hypochromic samples in the anemic group (together 18.3%), does not result in much improvement.

The sensitivity of a high MCV and low MCHC for the diagnosis of RA in feline blood samples in this study was poor, but specificity was good. Comparable results were obtained in a previous study of dogs (sensitivity 11%, specificity 98%).31 In that study, 32.5% of dogs had regenerative anemia, only 11.8% of which had macrocytic hypochromic anemia.31 A morphological classification therefore is not a replacement for a reticulocyte count when establishing the regenerative state of anemia in cats.

One unexpected finding was the high proportion of anemic samples with hyperchromic erythrocytes (29.5%). Hyperchromic changes usually indicate an erroneous result that could be because of hemolysis, the presence of Heinz bodies, spectral interferences from lipemia or icterus in the Hb assay and erythrocyte shrinkage because of under‐filled tubes (most likely here).6, 30 Samples with recorded hemolysis, lipemia, or icterus were excluded from the study population, but because the change in plasma color is only visible in the centrifuged sample, a hemolytic, lipemic, or icteric whole blood sample could not be entirely ruled out. Some changes in plasma color may not have been reported. It was not possible to assess the number of samples with Heinz bodies in this retrospective study.

An increased SC was present in a higher proportion of the anemic samples compared to the total population and the nonanemic samples. SC is commonly used as a marker of kidney disease20 but also can be increased because of prerenal and postrenal causes.19, 20 Because information about hydration status, disease duration, blood urea concentration, and urinalysis including specific gravity and sediment were not available;17, 18 no conclusions regarding the specificity of an increased SC as an indicator of renal disease can be drawn here.

This study has several limitations. It was retrospective and no clinical data or patient history could be obtained, including important information about the duration of the anemia or reasons for sampling. This could have an impact on the classification of the regeneration and the differences in severity of anemia in the different groups. Blood loss and hemolytic anemias initially are nonregenerative,2, 22 and the proportion of true NRA could have been overestimated in this sample population. Because the lower reference interval was used as the cutoff for anemia, 2.5% healthy cats may have been falsely included.

Some samples with pathological hemolysis may have been excluded with the hemolytic samples. Including these samples were not possible, but could potentially have increased the frequency of anemia as well as the proportion of hyperchromic samples.

Other pre‐analytical conditions such as RBC swelling because of storage and RBC shrinkage because of anticoagulant excess may have had an influence on 1 criterion more than another. Underfilled tubes may cause erythrocyte shrinkage that can result in decreased Ht and increased MCHC when the sample is measured using a laser hematology analyzer.32 This artifact may not occur using the impedance method because the diluent suspends the erythrocytes before impedance counting. They quickly regain volume and thus the calculated Ht may be unaffected.33 Aging of the blood samples may cause RBC swelling, which results in falsely increased MCV values and consequently an increase in Ht. This has been found to significantly impact results after 48 hours of storage at room temperature and 4°C (n = 5; room temperature and 4°C; P < .005).34 In an evaluation done in the authors' laboratory in 2011, 70% of submitted blood samples were <24 hours old (unpublished data).

A further limitation of this study is that not all causes of anemia were considered and no further classification other than NRA and RA was attempted.

In conclusion, the large number of samples used in this study was submitted from different first opinion veterinary practitioners in eastern Austria. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluates blood samples from such a large population of cats. Overall, 3.6% of feline blood samples submitted to a private laboratory exhibited anemia, and the majority of these were NRA. Regeneration status must be determined by a reticulocyte count because erythrocyte morphology and the erythrocyte indices MCV and MCHC are not reliable criteria for differentiation of RA from NRA in cats, similar to what is observed in dogs. SC was more often increased in the anemic compared to the nonanemic group and in the NRA compared to RA group, but SC was not correlated with the degree of anemia. These findings could be explored further in future studies in animal populations with clinically diagnosed renal disease.