Long-term biological variability and the generation of a new reference interval for plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in Labrador retrievers.

Breed-specific reference intervals might improve the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP measurement. Applying the currently recommended general cut-off value to Labradors is likely to result in frequent false positives and diagnosis would be improved by application of the new breed-specific reference interval calculated here.