title: Evaluation of the Bayer microalbumin/creatinine urinalysis dipstick.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of the Bayer microalbumin/creatinine urine reagent strip compared to established laboratory methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Random urine specimens from low and high risk pregnancy clinics as well as a random cohort from the community were analyzed for microalbumin and creatinine using both the reagent strip and the Roche Integra 700, according to manufacturers' specifications. Sensitivity and specificity were then calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the pregnant cohorts the sensitivities ranged from 19% to 59%, and the range of specificities was 45.4% to 84.2%. Using the microalbumin/creatinine data from the community, the sensitivity and specificity of the strip were 52.4% and 97.6%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The poor sensitivity of the microalbumin/creatinine urine reagent strip to detect significant microalbuminuria will likely limit its usefulness as a screening tool.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. hmwilde@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Helena M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wilde
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Cindy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Connors
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Martha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lyon
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D003404:Creatinine