Validation of human recombinant tissue factor-activated thromboelastography on citrated whole blood from clinically healthy dogs

Background: Thromboelastography (TEG) is an analytical method that enables global assessment of hemostatic function in whole blood (WB) with evaluation of both plasma and cellular components of hemostasis. TEG has a largely unused potential in the diagnostic workup and monitoring of dogs with hemostatic disorders and it may be a valuable supplement to traditional coagulation parameters. Objectives: The objective of this study was to establish a clinically applicable reference interval for a TEG assay using recombinant human tissue factor (TF) as the activator on citrated WB from clinically healthy dogs and to evaluate the stability of citrated WB stored for 30 minutes (T30) and 120 minutes (T120) at room temperature (RT). Additionally, we evaluated the analytical variation in reaction time (R), clotting time (K), angle (a), and maximum amplitude (MA). Methods: Blood was collected from 18 clinically healthy dogs. Duplicate TEG analyses with TF as the activator at a concentration of 1:50,000 were performed on canine citrated WB at T30 and T120. R, K, alpha, and MA were analyzed. Results: Mean TEG values at T30/T120 were R = 5.61/4.91 minutes, K = 4.20/3.34 minutes, alpha = 45.33/50.90 degrees, and MA = 47.96/50.19 mm. Significant differences in these values were observed after storage for T30 and T120 at RT, with a tendency towards hypercoagulability at T120. The mean coefficients of variation were low. Conclusions: Canine citrated WB can be used for TEG analysis with human recombinant TF as the activator when stored at RT for T30 or T120. At both time points, the analytical variation was low, suggesting that TEG analysis may be of value in evaluating dogs with hemostatic disorders. A fixed time point should be chosen for serial measurements.