The ketone β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) serves as an energy source when bodily energy stores are low. Concentrations of this blood analyte are often determined by spectrophotometric quantitative assays with a dry chemistry analyzer; however, rapid assessment with point-of-care devices have the potential to improve assessment of animals in the field or in clinical settings. We measured BHB concentrations in whole blood samples from 54 leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), 27 loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and 14 green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles in Florida, US with a point-of-care device and validated its use with corresponding plasma samples and dry chemistry analyzer as the gold standard. Concentrations of BHB highly correlated between the two methods for all three species, with loggerheads showing the best agreement and lowest bias. Therefore, the point-of-care device used for this study (Lucidplus β-ketone monitoring system) is probably appropriate for sea turtle BHB measurements.
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25 July 2022
Method Comparison of β-Hydroxybutyrate Using a Point-of-Care Device and Dry Chemistry Analyzer in Three Sea Turtle Species
Cassidy Soehnlein,
Sarah E. Hirsch,
Brianna L. Myre,
Nicole I. Stacy,
Samantha Clark,
Carolyn Cray,
Derek Aoki,
Kristina Kaleel,
Skyler Klingshirn,
Madison Toonder,
Justin R. Perrault
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Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 58 • No. 3
July 2022
Vol. 58 • No. 3
July 2022
biochemistry
blood
Caretta caretta
Chelonia mydas
Dermochelys coriacea
fasting physiology
green sea turtle
