Reliability of the porphobilinogen screening assay.
A survey conducted by the Australian Association of Clinical Biochemists Porphyrin Working Party on urinary porphobilinogen screening showed good sensitivity (75-97.5%). This is contrary to reports in the literature and to our own observations. We therefore assessed a widely used screening method (Watson-Schwartz) and found poor sensitivity (40-69%), and even less sensitivity (28-53%) when the urine samples were normally coloured or concentrated. Thus the results obtained by the Working Party might mislead one to infer that the Watson-Schwartz method is reliable.
Buttery
J E
JE
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, South Australia.
Carrera
A M
AM
Pannall
P R
PR
D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011162:Porphobilinogen / Q000652:urine*; D011164:Porphyrias / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011162:Porphobilinogen