Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #184811
Title: USING PORTABLE LACTATE AND GLUCOSE METERS FOR CATFISH RESEARCH: ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES TO ESTABLISHED LABORATORY METHODS?

Author
item VENN BEECHAM, R - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item Small, Brian
item MINCHEW, C - MISS. STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2006
Publication Date: 10/2/2006
Citation: Venn Beecham, R., Small, B.C., Minchew, C.D. 2006. Using portable lactate and glucose meters for catfish research: acceptable alternatives to established laboratory methods?. North American Journal of Aquaculture 68:291-295.

Interpretive Summary: Field studies to assess the effects of handling, harvesting, and environmental conditions on catfish physiology and health are complicated by a lack of appropriate methods to monitor changes in blood-born indicators of stress, such as glucose and lactate. In the last few years, portable handheld meters for measuring blood glucose and lactate levels in human patients have proven to be reliable and cost efficient. This study compared the use of handheld glucose and lactate meters designed for human clinical measurements to established laboratory methods as alternatives for assessing the degree of stress in channel catfish fingerlings. Both handheld meters were found to be highly precise and suitable for use in field or laboratory situations where relative measurements are suitable. Ease of use, portability, and rapidity of sample analysis make the handheld meters attractive alternatives to traditional laboratory methods. Portable devices such as these will help foster more field-based research to improve catfish culture conditions and overall fish health.

Technical Abstract: Simple and portable methods for assessing the physiological state of channel catfish would be valuable tools for field situations where problems with blood storage and transportation occur. This study compared the use of handheld lactate and glucose meters to established laboratory methods in stressed (fatigued) and unstressed (control) channel catfish fingerlings. Results obtained from the Accutrend lactate meter and the Accu-Chek Advantage glucose meter were consistently lower (P < 0.05) than those obtained with the laboratory reference method. However, significant differences (P < 0.0001) were found between the control and fatigued fish for both lactate and glucose, regardless of the method of analysis. Both handheld meters were found to be highly precise and would be suitable for use in field or laboratory situations where relative measurements are suitable. Cost analysis indicated that disposable costs associated with using the handheld meters were higher than those associated with accepted laboratory methods; however, the initial capital investment is lower for the handheld meters. Ease of use, portability, and rapidity of sample analysis make the handheld meters attractive alternatives to traditional laboratory methods.