Impact of blood tube additives and timing of sampling on blood taurine concentrations in clinically healthy dogs.

INTRODUCTION: Dilated cardiomyopathy can be associated with taurine deficiency in dogs. Blood taurine concentrations can be analyzed in whole blood (WB) and plasma. The study objectives were to investigate agreement between taurine concentrations measured in WB, heparin plasma, and EDTA plasma, determine intraindividual variation in healthy dogs, and evaluate if time from feeding to sampling impacts concentrations.

ANIMALS: Ten English Cocker spaniels and 10 dogs of various breeds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dogs were fasted 12 h prior to initial blood sampling, and the blood was collected at five occasions over eight h. Food was offered immediately after first and one h after fourth sampling time point.

RESULTS: Agreement between taurine concentrations in EDTA plasma and heparinized plasma was good (mean difference 4.5 nmol/mL, 95% confidence interval (CI) 36.8-45.8 nmol/mL). Whole blood concentrations were systematically higher than EDTA and heparin plasma concentrations (mean difference 132.7 nmol/mL, 95% CI 23.6-241.8 nmol/mL, and 127.6 nmol/mL, 95% CI 28.6-226.6 nmol/mL, respectively, all P < 0.001). Intraindividual daily variations in taurine concentration were seen in all additives, with largest variations in plasma (P < 0.001). Taurine concentration in heparinized plasma was higher at first and fifth sampling time points compared to the fourth (P = 0.014).

DISCUSSION: Agreement was found between taurine concentrations measured in different additives, with expected higher concentration in WB than plasma. Taurine concentrations measured in heparinized plasma varied with sampling time point. Intraindividual daily variations were observed in all additives, but mainly in plasma samples.

CONCLUSION: Taurine concentrations in dogs with suspected deficiency should be interpreted with caution.