Using Portable Lactate and Glucose Meters for Catfish Research: Acceptable Alternatives to Established Laboratory Methods?

Abstract Simple and portable methods for assessing the physiological state of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus would be valuable tools in field situations where problems with blood storage and transportation occur. This study compared the use of handheld lactate and glucose meters with established laboratory methods in stressed (fatigued) and unstressed (control) channel catfish fingerlings. The results obtained from the Accutrend (Roche Diagnostics Corp.) lactate meter and the Accu-Chek Advantage (Roche Diagnostics) 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 reliable and suitable for use in field or laboratory situations where relative measurements are acceptable. The costs associated with using the handheld meters were higher than those associated with accepted laboratory methods; however, the initial capital investment was lower for the handheld meters. Ease of use, portability, and rapidity of sample analysis make the handheld meters attractive alternatives to traditional laboratory methods.