Reliability of using reagent test strips to estimate blood urea nitrogen concentration in dogs and cats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical accuracy of reagent test strips used to estimate BUN concentration in dogs and cats.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
116 dogs and 58 cats.


METHODS
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
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.
Berent
Allyson C
AC
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Murakami
Tsuyoshi
T
Scroggin
Richard D
RD
Borjesson
Dori L
DL
D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000652:urine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011934:Reagent Strips; D009584:Nitrogen