Evaluation of a Portable Automated Serum Chemistry Analyzer for Field Assessment of Harlequin Ducks, Histrionicus histrionicus

A portable analytical chemistry analyzer was used to make field assessments of wild harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) inassociation with telemetry studies of winter survival in Prince William Sound, Alaska. We compared serum chemistry resultsobtained on-site with results from a traditional laboratory. Particular attention was paid to serum glucose and potassiumconcentrations as potential indicators of high-risk surgical candidates based on evaluation of the field data. Themedian differentialfor glucose values (N = 82) between methods was 0.6 mmol/L (quartiles 0.3 and 0.9 mmol/L) with the median value higher whenassayed on site. Analysis of potassium on site returned a median of 2.7 mmol/L (N = 88 ; quartiles 2.4 and 3.0 mmol/L). Serumpotassium values were too low for quantitation by the traditional laboratory. Changes in several serum chemistry values followinga three-day storm during the study support the value of on site evaluation of serum potassium to identify presurgical patients withincreased anesthetic risk.