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[[Image:Iv_injections.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Intravenous blood sampling(Copyright © RVC)]]  

[[Image:Iv_injections.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Intravenous blood sampling(Copyright © RVC)]]  

Biochemical analysis of blood is a useful diagnostic tool. It is often necessary to prioritise the components of a profile because of the small volume of blood submitted. Consider the following tests:

Biochemical analysis of blood is a useful diagnostic tool. It is often necessary to prioritise the components of a profile because of the small volume of blood submitted. Consider the following tests:

The primary catabolic end product of protein, non-protein nitrogen and purines depends upon a reptile’s natural environment. Terrestrial reptiles excrete uric acid as the primary nitrogenous waste product (i.e. they are uricotelic). Uric acid is synthesised in the liver and excreted by renal tubular secretion.  The blood level is therefore largely independent of urine flow rate (and is therefore not a sensitive indicator of dehydration in reptiles or birds). Both animal and environmental factors influence uric acid levels. The normal blood uric acid value for most reptiles is 0 to 600 µmol/l.  

The primary catabolic end product of protein, non-protein nitrogen and purines depends upon a reptile’s natural environment. Terrestrial reptiles excrete uric acid as the primary nitrogenous waste product (i.e. they are uricotelic). Uric acid is synthesised in the liver and excreted by renal tubular secretion.  The blood level is therefore largely independent of urine flow rate (and is therefore not a sensitive indicator of dehydration in reptiles or birds). Both animal and environmental factors influence uric acid levels. The normal blood uric acid value for most reptiles is 0 to 600 µmol/l.  

===Hyperuricaemia===

===Hyperuricaemia===

Plasma levels of uric acid increase with [[Lizard and Snake Renal Disease|renal disease]] but this is neither a sensitive indicator of renal dysfunction, nor a specific indicator since physiological increases are common. Physiological high levels are seen in several species during [[Hibernation|hibernation]], probably due to decreased tubular function at low temperatures. Healthy snakes should be resampled after a fast if a high uric acid level is seen. Increased uric acid levels are seen with gout and renal failure. The loss of about two thirds of the renal functional mass is necessary before uric acid increases and therefore rises late in the course of renal failure. Renal failure has been associated with nephrocalcinosis (associated with high dietary levels of [[Calcium|calcium]] or hypervitaminosis D), [[Visceral gout|visceral gout]] (caused by dehydration, renal failure or toxicosis) and nephrotoxic drugs (aminoglycosides can result in significant renal tubular necrosis).

Plasma levels of uric acid increase with [[Lizard and Snake Renal Disease|renal disease]] but this is neither a sensitive indicator of renal dysfunction, nor a specific indicator since physiological increases are common. Physiological high levels are seen in several species during [[Hibernation|hibernation]], probably due to decreased tubular function at low temperatures. Healthy snakes should be resampled after a fast if a high uric acid level is seen. Increased uric acid levels are seen with gout and renal failure. The loss of about two thirds of the renal functional mass is necessary before uric acid increases and therefore rises late in the course of renal failure. Renal failure has been associated with nephrocalcinosis (associated with high dietary levels of [[Calcium - Reptiles|calcium]] or hypervitaminosis D), [[Visceral gout|visceral gout]] (caused by dehydration, renal failure or toxicosis) and nephrotoxic drugs (aminoglycosides can result in significant renal tubular necrosis).

==Calcium==

==Calcium==

==Tests not commonly used:==

==Tests not commonly used:==

*'''[[Alanine aminotransferase|Alanine aminotransferase]]''' - Elevated blood values of [[Alanine aminotransferase|alanine aminotransferase (ALT)]], formerly glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, GPT or SGPT, are not specific for one tissue and are not a reliable indicator of liver or muscle damage. ALT is not usually part of routine biochemistry.

*'''Alanine aminotransferase''' - Elevated blood values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), formerly glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, GPT or SGPT, are not specific for one tissue and are not a reliable indicator of liver or muscle damage. ALT is not usually part of routine biochemistry.

*'''[[Alkaline phosphatase|Alkaline phosphatase]]''' - [[Alkaline phosphatase|Alkaline phosphatase]] (AP, ALP) is widely distributed in tissue and generally at low levels. Low tissue activity and lack of tissue specificity limit the use of AP as a diagnostic indicator in reptiles.

*'''Alkaline phosphatase''' - Alkaline phosphatase (AP, ALP) is widely distributed in tissue and generally at low levels. Low tissue activity and lack of tissue specificity limit the use of AP as a diagnostic indicator in reptiles.

*'''Bilirubin''' - Assessment of bilirubin is not a useful diagnostic test since the major bile pigment of reptiles is biliverdin. Bilirubin cannot be detected or occurs at low concentrations. Plasma elevations of biliverdin may be useful in the diagnosis of liver-associated disease.

*'''Bilirubin''' - Assessment of bilirubin is not a useful diagnostic test since the major bile pigment of reptiles is biliverdin. Bilirubin cannot be detected or occurs at low concentrations. Plasma elevations of biliverdin may be useful in the diagnosis of liver-associated disease.

*'''Creatinine''' - Normal plasma creatinine values for reptiles are very low and are a poor diagnostic indicator in reptiles.

*'''Creatinine''' - Normal plasma creatinine values for reptiles are very low and are a poor diagnostic indicator in reptiles.

*'''Cholesterol''' - Cholesterol is a useful diagnostic parameter in mammalian biochemistry and is used in human medicine as an indicator for heart disease. Although vascular disease has been observed in reptiles, the relationship between cholesterol levels and disease has not been established in reptiles.

*'''Cholesterol''' - Cholesterol is a useful diagnostic parameter in mammalian biochemistry and is used in human medicine as an indicator for heart disease. Although vascular disease has been observed in reptiles, the relationship between cholesterol levels and disease has not been established in reptiles.

*'''Triglycerides''' - Most of the lipid in the blood of reptiles is in the form of triglycerides (but carotenoid pigments may be present in significant levels in many squamates). Levels vary significantly between species and change slowly with starvation and other environmental stressors.  Triglyceride is not presently a useful diagnostic parameter in reptiles because there is little information relating level to disease states.

*'''Triglycerides''' - Most of the lipid in the blood of reptiles is in the form of triglycerides (but carotenoid pigments may be present in significant levels in many squamates). Levels vary significantly between species and change slowly with starvation and other environmental stressors.  Triglyceride is not presently a useful diagnostic parameter in reptiles because there is little information relating level to disease states.

[[Category:Lizard_Diagnostics|C]]

[[Category:Lizard_Diagnostics|C]]

[[Category:Snake_Diagnostics|C]]

[[Category:Snake_Diagnostics|C]]