title: An analytical comparison between point-of-care uric acid testing meters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A key goal in gout treatment is achieving sustained serum uric acid (sUA) lowering. Point-of-care test (PoCT) meters provide convenient, rapid measures of sUA levels to monitor/adjust therapy. Four commercially available sUA PoCT meters were compared qualitatively (ease of use) and quantitatively (precision/accuracy).
  
  
  METHODS
  Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis was used as a laboratory reference method to compare precision of PoCT devices using blood samples from 20 healthy volunteers. Accuracy was compared against the LC-MS reference method and a laboratory clinical chemistry platform.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Qualitatively, EasyTouch(®) GU and UASure were least user-friendly, requiring repeated attempts for accurate use. HumaSens and BeneCheck provided good usability and assay precision. Cross-validation of meter precision with laboratory-based uricase assay gave good correlations between both methods (R(2) = 0.8061 and 0.7605, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UA PoCT meters can be important in managing gout, and the characteristics compared herein may enhance successful patient uptake.
authors.affiliation: a Research & Development , AstraZeneca , Macclesfield , UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paraskos
authors.affiliation: b Research & Development , AstraZeneca , Mölndal , Sweden.
authors.forename: Zsofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Berke
authors.affiliation: b Research & Development , AstraZeneca , Mölndal , Sweden.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: c Research & Development , Ardea Biosciences (a member of the AstraZeneca Group) , San Diego , California , USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Miner
authors.affiliation: a Research & Development , AstraZeneca , Macclesfield , UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braddock
authors.affiliation: d Companion Diagnostics , AstraZeneca , Cambridge , UK.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.affiliation: a Research & Development , AstraZeneca , Macclesfield , UK.
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D019719:Diagnostic Equipment / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid
keywords: Uric acid; diagnostic test; gout; point-of-care systems