2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

ACTIVATED CLOTTING TIME IN HEALTHY SEDATED CATS USING THE MAX-ACT SYSTEM. Anthony Abrams-Ogg 1 , Kimberly Ho 1 , Shauna Blois 1 , Karol Mathews 1 , Marie Holowaychuk 1 , Alexa Bersenas 1 , Darren Wood 1 . 1 University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Activated clotting time (ACT) in cats, based on visual first clot at 37°C, using a tube no longer available, was reported as mean 99.2 sec, median 95 sec, and 95% CI 55-165 sec, with no effect of sedation ( 1 Am J Vet Res 2000;61:750-753). Using the currently available MAX-ACT tube, visual end clot formation at 37°C was reported as mean 66 sec, and range 55-85 sec ( 2 Aust Vet J 2009; 87: 292-295). In the present study, MAX-ACT was measured in 49 healthy client-owned cats with normal hematology and hemostasis. Cats were sedated with ketamine 2 mg/kg and butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg, given via a saphenous vein. Using jugular venipuncture with a 21ga butterfly needle, after blood draw into vacuum tubes for hematology, blood was collected by syringe. Blood draw quality was graded from 1(easy) to 3 (difficult) 1 . 0.5 mL was dispensed into a MAX-ACT tube, warmed by axillary incubation (35.4-36.6°C), and after 60 sec visually inspected q10sec for first clot formation, and then q5sec until end clot formation. Another 0.5 mL was synchronously dispensed into a second MAX-ACT tube, and incubated at 38.4°C in an instrument that mechanically detects end clot formation (Actalyke MINI II).