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Given the high unit value of live American lobsters (Homarus americanus), a non-destructive field method to assess physiological state is desirable during out-of-water transport conditions. This study compared an Uricon® specific gravity refractometer, with a commercial veterinary blood analyser (Vet-Test), as a method for determining the blood total protein concentration in live, out-of-water individuals. Regression analysis of R2 = 0.8641 (n = 64) was observed in determination of blood total protein concentration, y = 0.0036x + 1.0163 where x is the protein concentration in mg dL−1 in Vet-Test. Our results (R2 = 0.864, SE ± 0.003) support the results (R2 = 0.985) of the previous study conducted by Leavitt & Bayer (1977) in which serum total protein was compared with the refractometric method. We therefore confirm that the refractometric method can be used as a reliable method to indicate health of a lobster by measuring the blood total protein concentration. The results show good correlation between the protein concentrations observed using the refractometric method and a Vet-Test blood chemistry analyser. anova analysis was significant between the protein refractometer and the Vet-Test (P |
