Validation of Human Haptoglobin Immunoturbidimetric Assay for Detection of Haptoglobin in Equine and Canine Serum and Plasma

The Incstar® SPQ II human haptoglobin (Hpt) (Incstar Corporation, Stillwater, MN) immunoturbidimetric assay was validated for the determination of serum and plasma Hpt concentrations in dogs and horses. The anti-human Hpt antiserum supplied with the assay, displayed monospecificity to both dog and horse serum Hpt by immunoelectrophoresis and Western blotting techniques. The automated immunoturbidimetric assay results correlated well with the cyanmethemoglobin binding assay (r = 0.953 for canine serum and r = 0.941 for equine serum), and had excellent precision at both high and low serum Hpt concentrations (within run and between run coefficients of variation near or less than 5%). The assay was linear in both species by serial dilution of pooled-high serum with pooled-low serum, saline and with Hpt-free serum. Interference from hemolysis (> 25 mg/dl hemoglobin) and lipemia greater than 100 mg/dl caused a false decrease and false increase respectively in Hpt yield with the immunoturbidimetric assay. The anti-Hpt antibody supplied with the assay kit, once diluted with polymer diluent and stored at 4°C, was stable for up to 6 days and gave consistent results.