Evaluation of a commercially available human C-reactive protein (CRP) turbidometric immunoassay for determination of canine serum CRP concentration.
BACKGROUND
Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase marker in dogs that is useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory disease. Rapid, reliable, and automated assays are preferable for routine evaluation of canine serum CRP concentration.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether canine serum CRP concentration could be measured reliably using an automated turbidometric immunoassay (TIA) designed for use with human serum.


METHODS
A commercially available TIA for human serum CRP (Bayer, Newbury, UK) was used to measure canine serum CRP concentration. Cross-reactivity of antigen was evaluated by the Ouchterlony procedure. Intra- and interassay imprecision was investigated by multiple measurements on canine serum samples and serum pools, respectively. Assay inaccuracy was investigated by linearity under dilution and comparison of methodologies (canine CRP ELISA, Tridelta Development Ltd, Kildare, UK). Then the assay was applied to serum samples from 14 clinically healthy dogs, 11 dogs with neoplasia, 13 with infections, 8 with endocrine or metabolic diseases, and 10 with miscellaneous diseases.


RESULTS
Cross-reactivity between canine serum CRP and the anti-human CRP antibody was found. Intra- and interassay imprecision ranged from 5.2% to 10.8% and 3.0% to 10.2%, respectively. Serum CRP concentration was measured in a linear and proportional manner. There was no significant disagreement and there was linear correlation of the results in the comparison of methodologies, except for a slight proportional discrepancy at low CRP concentrations (<10 microg/mL). Dogs with infections had a significantly higher concentration of serum CRP than did all other dogs, and dogs with neoplasia had a significantly higher concentration of serum CRP than did clinically healthy dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
Canine serum CRP concentration can be measured reliably using the commercially available TIA designed for human CRP.
Kjelgaard-Hansen
Mads
M
Central Laboratory and the Small Animal Hospital, Department of Clinical Studies, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark. mjkh@kvl.dk
Jensen
Asger Lundorff
AL
Kristensen
Annemarie T
AT
D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000662:veterinary*; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D002097:C-Reactive Protein