CBC

probably the single most useful of all diagnostics interpretations similar to mammals except the Heterophil is the avian counterpart to the Neutrophil; some species respond with a lymphocytosis the way others do with a heterophilia

Alkaline Phosphatase

no specific significance; isoenzymes may be useful

ALT (SGPT)

relatively meaningless in birds

Albumin

see electrophoresis; marked errors in reporting unless measured by electrophoresis

Amylase

elevated with pancreatitis; some elevation in GI disease

AST(SGOT)

primary source- liver, muscle, kidney; elevation creates suspicion of liver disease

Bile Acids

elevation is a reliable indicator of liver dysfunction; normal values sometimes misleading

Bilirubin

inconsistently elevated with liver disease

Calcium

value linked to protein levels; elevated in preovulatory females, dehydration, some neoplasia; decreased in African Grey parrots with metabolic hypocalcemia syndrome

Cholesterol

inconsistent; may be elevated in cases of liver disease, hypothyroidism, starvation

Creatinine

not applicable in birds

CPK

elevated with muscle damage or CNS disease

Glucose

persistently elevated with diabetes, transiently after stress or eating

Iron

once thought to be elevated with iron storage disease, now considered unreliable

LDH

nonspecific, inconsistent

Lipase

elevated with acute pancreatitis

Phosphorus

inconsistent; elevated in severe renal disease

Protein, Total

must be measured by biuret method to be accurate although temperature compensated refractometer acceptable in non-lipemic samples; decreased with malnutrition, malabsorption, renal disease, liver disease; elevated with dehydration or immune stimulation; many normal total proteins may consist of hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia, therefore A/G ratio important

Urea Nitrogen

minimally useful; changes inconsistent but related to renal disease or dehydration

Uric Acid

eliminated by kidneys, elevated in renal disease, also elevated in severe dehydration

Chloride

inconsistent

Potassium

elevated with renal disease, acidosis, adrenal disease, hemolysis; decreased with diarrhea, alkalosis

Sodium

elevated in salt-poisoning; decreased with over- hydration

Bicarbonate

increased with alkalosis and decreased with acidosis

Culture:

Bacterial C/S

much less significant than once thought- never should be used to gauge the health of an individual; useful if confined to sampling specific sites believed to have pathology

Fungal C/

useful if pathogen isolated; less reliable if negative

Chlamydial C/

most accurate of chlamydial diagnostics if positive; inconclusive if negative

Viral C/

useful if positive; inconclusive if negative

Mycoplasma C/

useful if positive; inconclusive if negative

Chlamydia IFA

most sensitive, least specific; common false positives, rare false negatives

Chlamydia EBA

rare false positives, occasional false negatives

Chlamydia LA

moderate sensitivity/ specificity

Chlamydia CF

moderate sensitivity/ specificity

Chlamydia ELISA

rare false positives, common false negatives; never use as a well-bird screed!!!

Chlamydia DNA

experimental; potential for great accuracy

PBFD DNA

tremendous accuracy; extremely rare false negatives

Polyoma DNA

extremely rare false positives; common false negatives

Aspergillus IFA

false negatives, false positives

Electrophoresis:

Pre-Albumin

Carrier protein?, osmotic effect

Albumin

Carrier protein, osmotic effect

Alpha Globulin

Necrosis

Beta Globulin

Immune complexes

Gamma globulin

Antibodies

Miscellaneous:

Heavy Metals

specific screening