Use of hemoglobinometer as an alternative for the measurement of hemoglobin and hematocrit in samples of birds

Abstract

Despite recent innovations in engineering and design of portable clinical equipment, these are not designed for taxonomic groups such as birds or herptiles that have nucleated erythrocytes, therefore it would be important to know how reliable measurements are produced by such portable equipment. Another limiting factor is the small amount of blood that is usually obtained from small animals such as birds, amphibians, and lizards, it is necessary to think of an alternative to obtain hematological data. In this study, we compared hemoglobin and hematocrit values of 39 wild birds, obtained by classical methodologies (spectrophotometry and microhematocrit) and by a portable hemoglobinometer Mission® Hb (ELA), designed to determine these values in humans. We found a highly significant correlation between the methodologies for measuring hemoglobin (rs = 0.73, p <0.001), but not for hematocrit measurements. The use of the portable hemoglobinometer to obtain Hb data in the field will help to build a reference database to assess the health of wild animals. The classic methodologies are the ones of choice; however, the use of ELA is very convenient for measurements in the field and of small organisms; we recomend the use of specifically that equipment that makes the correction of the turbidity generated by the erythrocyte nucleus.