title: Comparison of a fluorometric assay kit with high-performance liquid chromatography for the assessment of serum retinol concentration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the commonly used method for the analysis of retinol in biological samples, simple and rapid test kits are available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study compared a rapid test kit (ICHECK Fluoro®) to HPLC for the assessment of serum retinol concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the analysis by HPLC, sample preparation included standard deproteinization and extraction phases. The analysis by ICHECK was performed by injecting serum into IEX reagent vials (n=89) and mixing manually for separation. After precipitation of the proteins, the vial was introduced into the chamber of the ICHECK Fluoro and analysed at 0 min (ICHECK0min) and 15 min later (ICHECK15min). Bland and Altman approach was applied to test the agreement between HPLC and ICHECK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean HPLC, ICHECK0min and ICHECK15min values were 421.2±106.0 µg/L, 423.1±118.3 µg/L and 413.2±107.6 µg/L, respectively. Retinol concentrations significantly decreased in the IEX solution over time (p<0.001). No significant proportional bias was observed between HPLC and ICHECK0min (r-0.038, p=0.73) and ICHECK15min (r=-0.024, p=0.82). Fixed biases (HPLC minus ICHECK) for ICHECK0min and ICHECK15min were respectively -1.9±23.1 µg/l (p=0.45) and 8.0±22.7 µg/l (p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ICHECK Fluoro may offer a reliable mean for assessing serum retinol for measurements performed with no significant time delay.
authors.affiliation: Joint Unit of Research in Nutrition and Food Sciences, URAC 39, Ibn Tofail University-CNESTEN.
authors.forename: Aglago Kouassivi
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Elom
authors.affiliation: Joint Unit of Research in Nutrition and Food Sciences, URAC 39, Ibn Tofail University-CNESTEN.
authors.forename: El Menchawy
authors.initials: el M
authors.lastname: Imane
authors.affiliation: Joint Unit of Research in Nutrition and Food Sciences, URAC 39, Ibn Tofail University-CNESTEN.
authors.forename: Benjeddou
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaoutar
authors.affiliation: Joint Unit of Research in Nutrition and Food Sciences, URAC 39, Ibn Tofail University-CNESTEN.
authors.forename: El Kari
authors.initials: el K
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Joint Unit of Research in Nutrition and Food Sciences, URAC 39, Ibn Tofail University-CNESTEN.
authors.forename: El Hamdouchi
authors.initials: el H
authors.lastname: Asmaa
authors.affiliation: Joint Unit of Research in Nutrition and Food Sciences, URAC 39, Ibn Tofail University-CNESTEN ; Ministry of Education, School Health Service, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Azlaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehdi
authors.affiliation: Joint Unit of Research in Nutrition and Food Sciences, URAC 39, Ibn Tofail University-CNESTEN.
authors.forename: El Haloui
authors.initials: el H
authors.lastname: Noureddine
authors.affiliation: Joint Unit of Research in Nutrition and Food Sciences, URAC 39, Ibn Tofail University-CNESTEN.
authors.forename: Aguenaou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012424:Rural Population; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A
keywords: HPLC; ICHECK Fluoro; serum retinol; test kit; vitamin A status