Response of the VCMVet viscoelastic coagulation monitor to veterinary environmental simulation challenges.

Background: Traditional viscoelastic clotting tests are significantly impacted by the operator and environmental variation. The VCMVet coagulation monitor could provide a more user-friendly alternative for veterinary practices.

Objectives: We aimed to determine if environmental vibration commonly encountered in veterinary practice alters the results of a point-of-care viscoelastic device, the VCMVet.

Methods: Nine fresh whole blood samples from healthy dogs were evaluated simultaneously using VCMVet instruments under four environmental conditions: (normal) alone and undisturbed on a raised tabletop, (centrifuge) on a countertop 6 inches from a centrifuge that operated at 12 000 rpm for 10 minutes every 20 minutes, (workspace) on a tabletop workspace in proximity to two heavy-use computers, and (gurney) on a rolling gurney at a walking pace for 10 minutes every 20 minutes. Results were compared between conditions using a Friedman test, and if this was significant (P-value < .05), it was followed by a Wilcoxon test for paired samples.

Results: Analysis of samples on a rolling gurney created obvious movement artifacts, and this condition was excluded from statistical analysis. The centrifuge condition resulted in a significantly higher alpha angle (median 49 degrees, interquartile range 4) than the normal condition (median 46 degrees, interquartile range 5, P = .0078). Other viscoelastic parameters were not significantly different between the normal, centrifuge, and workspace conditions.

Conclusions: The VCMVet is suitable for use in a busy veterinary environment but should be protected from vibration. The instrument does not produce reliable results when operated on a moving gurney, and it should be stationary during sample analysis.