[Evaluation of urinary density by AMES reagent strips and comparison to the density determined by refractometry and urinary osmolarity].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
SEARCH · Search PubMed
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Determination of total and specific IgE using reactive test strips may afford a useful screening method in the in vitro diagnosis of allergens owing to easy use and possible correlation with established methods. T.D. LETI reactive strips for the semiquantitative determination of total IgE is a method combining classical fundamentals (sandwich anti-IgE-IgE-labeled anti-IgE) and the use of strip methods. It also permits determination of specific IgE levels in a wide range of Mediterranean and food (10) allergens. In a preliminary assessment, this method was correlated with isotopic PRIST for total IgE and with Phadebas RAST for specific IgE. The most important features are: a) no additional equipment besides serum or whole blood; b) cheaper and faster than PRIST for total IgE; c) correlation coefficient of 0.88 in the proposed range (n = 20) and 0.91 (n = 25) in the 10-500 U/ml range for PRIST/T.D. LETI for total IgE; d) specific IgE determination strips present sensitivity and specificity of 88 and 91%, respectively, in 180 allergens assayed in relation to Phadebas RAST. In conclusion, the in vitro diagnosis of allergens using reactive strips is currently a practical and simple method. By optimizing the top of the scale for total IgE and reducing the volume and/or time in specific IgE, it may prove to be an important screening method.
N-Multistix SG provides a convenient colorimetric assay for the determination of the specific gravity (sp. gr.) of freshly voided urine. When compared with results obtained by standard hydrometry, the colorimetric assay sp. gr. was observed to decrease by as much as 0.010 units as urine pH increased from 5 to 7. Moderate levels of proteinuria that did not alter hydrometer readings effectively raised the colorimetric sp. gr. by 0.005-0.010 units. The colorimetric assay was almost completely insensitive to clinically encountered concentrations of glucose and urea but responded appropriately to monovalent salts. The magnitude of these observed discrepancies places serious limitations on the value of the colorimetric sp. gr. measurement.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of a rapid strip test for the quick evaluation of sputum quality. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind study. Sputum and saliva samples were collected. Sputum quality was assessed by the presence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and squamous epithelial cells (SECs) per low-power (microscopic) field (LPF) [x10 objective]. Sputum was defined as follows: (1) informative (ie, > 25 PMNs and < 10 SECs per LPF); (2) semi-informative (ie, > 25 PMNs or < 10 SECs per LPF, but not both); or (3) uninformative (ie, < 25 PMNs and > 10 SECs per LPF). The first two levels were considered to be "sputum" and the third one was considered to be "nonsputum." The quality of the sputum was compared to results obtained using a rapid strip test (Combur-Test; Roche Diagnostics; Basel, Switzerland) for specific gravity (SG), pH, leukocyte esterase (LE) activity, and levels of nitrites, protein, glucose, and erythrocytes. A Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the three levels of sputum quality and the rapid strip test. A Mann-Whitney test compared sputum and nonsputum to the rapid strip reagents. Pearson correlation and kappa tests were used to assess correlation. Receiver operating characteristic was used to calculate the best cut-point values, and the sensitivity and specificity of these values were calculated. RESULTS: Eighty-two samples were included, with 61 samples from hospitalized patients and 21 samples from healthy volunteers. The best predicator of sputum quality was the SG of the reagent. Using an SG threshold definition of > 1.01, the sensitivity was 86.8% and the specificity was 75.9%. The specificity of protein, glucose >/= +1, and LE levels were relatively low. No relationship was found between the results of the reagent strip test for pH, nitrites, and erythrocytes, and the sputum quality. CONCLUSION: Using an SG threshold definition of > 1.01, the rapid reagent strip test has been shown to be a sensitive test for the evaluation of sputum quality, which can be useful when facilities for sputum cytology are not available.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate patterns of self monitoring of blood glucose concentration in diabetic patients who use insulin and to determine whether frequency of self monitoring is related to glycaemic control. SETTING: Diabetes database, Tayside, Scotland. SUBJECTS: Patients resident in Tayside in 1993-5 who were using insulin and were registered on the database and diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) or non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes before 1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of glucose monitoring reagent strips dispensed (reagent strip uptake) derived from records of prescriptions. First recorded haemoglobin A1c concentration in the study period, and reagent strips dispensed in the previous 6 months. RESULTS: Among 807 patients with type 1 diabetes, 128 (16%) did not redeem any prescriptions for glucose monitoring reagent strips in the 3 year study period. Only 161 (20%) redeemed prescriptions for enough reagent strips to test glucose daily. The corresponding figures for the 790 patients with type 2 diabetes who used insulin were 162 (21%; no strips) and 131 (17%; daily tests). Reagent strip uptake was influenced both by age and by deprivation category. There was a direct relation between uptake and glycaemic control for 258 patients (with recorded haemoglobin A1c concentrations) with type 1 diabetes. In a linear regression model the decrease in haemoglobin A1c concentration for every extra 180 reagent strips dispensed was 0.7%. For the 290 patients with type 2 diabetes who used insulin there was no such relation. CONCLUSIONS: Self monitoring of blood glucose concentration is associated with improved glycaemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes. Regular self monitoring in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is uncommon.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of fingerstick glucose measurements in severely hypotensive patients. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized comparison study. SETTING: Emergency department in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-five severely hypotensive patients (systolic blood pressure less than or equal to 80 mm Hg) and 39 normotensive patients. MEASUREMENTS: Simultaneous fingerstick reagent strip glucose, venous reagent strip glucose, and laboratory glucose values were compared. Data were analyzed using error-grid analysis. RESULTS: In hypotensive patients, the mean fingerstick glucose values were significantly lower than the values obtained either by venous reagent strip or laboratory glucose measurements. Fingerstick glucose values in the hypotensive group were 67.5% of laboratory glucose values, and were significantly lower than the values obtained in the normotensive group (91.8%, P less than 0.001). Only 36% of the hypotensive patients had fingerstick glucose values within the acceptable range of 20% of the laboratory glucose value. Thirty-two percent of hypotensive patients were incorrectly diagnosed as hypoglycemic (glucose less than 3.89 mmol/L [70 mg/dL]); 2 of these patients were actually hyperglycemic (glucose greater than 11.10 mmol/L [200 mg/dL]). Venous reagent strip measurements accurately reflected laboratory glucose values in both hypotensive and normotensive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Fingerstick glucose testing does not accurately represent venous glucose levels in severely hypotensive patients. If fingerstick glucose testing is relied on for these patients, errors in clinical management may be made. Venous reagent strip glucose testing correlates well with laboratory glucose measurements and should be the preferred method for rapid assessment of glucose level in critically ill patients with severe hypotension.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability and validity of refractometry, hydrometry, and reagent strips in assessing urine specific gravity in collegiate wrestlers. DESIGN AND SETTING: We assessed the reliability of refractometry, hydrometry, and reagent strips between 2 trials and among 4 testers. The validity of hydrometry and reagent strips was assessed by comparison with refractometry, the criterion measure for urine specific gravity. SUBJECTS: Twenty-one National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III collegiate wrestlers provided fresh urine samples. MEASUREMENTS: Four testers measured the specific gravity of each urine sample 6 times: twice by refractometry, twice by hydrometry, and twice by reagent strips. RESULTS: Refractometer measurements were consistent between trials (R =.998) and among testers; hydrometer measurements were consistent between trials (R =.987) but not among testers; and reagent-strip measurements were not consistent between trials or among testers. Hydrometer (1.018 +/- 0.006) and reagent-strip (1.017 +/- 0.007) measurements were significantly higher than refractometer (1.015 +/- 0.006) measurements. Intraclass correlation coefficients were moderate between refractometry and hydrometry (R =.869) and low between refractometry and reagent strips (R =.573). The hydrometer produced 28% false positives and 2% false negatives, and reagent strips produced 15% false positives and 9% false negatives. CONCLUSIONS: Only the refractometer should be used to determine urine specific gravity in collegiate wrestlers during the weight-certification process.
Pathstrips semi-quantitatively determine concentration of protein in urine. The Pathstrip has a protein detection limit of 0.3 g/l and is stable at high temperature (40 degrees Celsius). Pathstrip was found favourably comparable to currently available Reagent strips for protein detection in urine (e.g. Ames Reagent strips). The Pathstrip is easy to use and add in the range of reagent strips for detection of urine protein as a test near the patient. No significant difference was obtained in semi-quantitation of urine proteins between Pathstrips and other currently available Reagent strips (e.g. Ames and BM Test).
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical accuracy of reagent test strips used to estimate BUN concentration in dogs and cats. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 116 dogs and 58 cats. PROCEDURE: Blood samples were collected at the time of admission to the hospital. Estimates of BUN concentration obtained with reagent test strips (category 1 [5 to 15 mg/dL], 2 (15 to 26 mg/dL], 3 [30 to 40 mg/dL], or 4 [50 to 80 mg/dL]) were compared with SUN concentrations measured with an automated analyzer. For dogs, category 1 and 2 test strip results were considered a negative result (nonazotemic) and category 3 and 4 test strip results were considered a positive result (azotemic). For cats, category 1, 2, and 3 test strip results were considered a negative result (nonazotemic) and category 4 test strip results were considered a positive result (azotemic). RESULTS: On the basis of SUN concentration, 40 of the 174 (23%) animals (20 dogs and 20 cats) were classified as azotemic. One dog and 2 cats had false-negative test strip results, and 1 dog had a false-positive result. Sensitivity and specificity were 95% (20/21) and 99% (94/95), respectively, for dogs and 87% (13/15) and 100% (43/43), respectively, for cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that reagent test strips are a reliable method for rapidly estimating BUN concentrations in dogs and cats. Because test strip results are only semiquantitative and there remains a potential for misclassification, especially in cats, urea nitrogen concentration should ultimately be verified by means of standard chemistry techniques.
Haematuria elicited in the history, seen macroscopically or detected by reagent strips, was used as an indirect screening test for Schistosoma haematobium infection in Um-Hani Irrigation Scheme in the White Nile province, Sudan. These approaches were used separately or combined in different sequences. Reagent strips alone detected 81% of cases and 88% of those who excreted 50 egg/10 ml of urine or more. The sequence of observation of gross haematuria followed by screening with reagent strips and then taking history of haematuria had the highest sensitivity of all the orders, 0.87, and it saved 18% of reagent strips. If history and inspection were done first, followed by reagent strips, the sensitivity would be 0.86 and 47% of strips would be saved. The specificity of haematuria as a diagnostic index for schistosomiasis, however, was low.