New semiquantitative dipstick test for microalbuminuria.
OBJECTIVE
We compared a new semiquantitative dipstick test for microalbuminuria (Micral-Test) with a quantitative immunoturbidimetric method.


METHODS
This correlation study was performed at a pediatric and medical outpatient clinic at a university hospital. Overnight urine samples containing less than 200 mg/L albumin from 186 diabetic patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
The correlation coefficient between the new semiquantitative method and the immunoturbidimetric reference method was 0.82. Elevated albumin concentration was defined as greater than 20 mg/L albumin in overnight urine, and the prevalence of samples with values above this level was 28%. By this definition, the Micral-Test assay level greater than or equal to 20 mg/L had a sensitivity of 92.3% and a specificity of 82.1%. Of the diabetic subjects, 84.9% were correctly classified as having elevated urinary albumin concentration or not.


CONCLUSIONS
The Micral-Test is useful for in-clinic screening for elevated urinary albumin concentration and monitoring the development of urinary albumin excretion in the low microalbuminuric range.
Bangstad
H J
HJ
Aker Diabetes Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Medicine and Clinical Chemistry, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Try
K
K
Dahl-Jørgensen
K
K
Hanssen
K F
KF
D000419:Albuminuria; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000652:urine*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000652:urine; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008832:Microchemistry; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000379:methods; D011934:Reagent Strips
D011934:Reagent Strips