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Test Strips (test + strip)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	68%
Life Sciences	25%

Selected Abstracts

Utility of a Peritoneal Dialysis Leukocyte Test Strip in the Diagnosis of Peritonitis

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 6 2002
Ramin Sam
Abstract: Expeditious diagnosis of peritonitis remains a significant goal in the management of patients maintained on peritoneal dialysis. Several attempts to use leukocyte esterase reagent strips to diagnose peritonitis have been described. In this study we examined the usefulness of a new reagent strip, the PeriScreen Test Strip, in the diagnosis of peritonitis. A series of 72 peritoneal effluent samples obtained from 22 maintenance peritoneal dialysis patients is reported. In this study, the test strips had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.3% as compared to an abnormal leukocyte count. Thus, in the diagnosis of peritonitis we believe that the PeriScreen Test Strip can be used as a simple bedside screening test to exclude peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients. [source]

Detection of single nucleotide substitution by competitive allele-specific short oligonucleotide hybridization (CASSOH) with immunochromatographic strip,

HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 2 2003
Yoichi Matsubara
Abstract Recent advances in human genome research have revealed that genetic polymorphisms, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are closely associated with susceptibility to various common diseases and adverse drug reactions. Also, numerous mutations responsible for a number of genetic diseases have been identified. Clinical application of genetic information to individual health care requires simple and rapid identification of nucleotide changes in clinical settings. We have devised a novel low-tech method for the detection of a single nucleotide substitution using competitive allele-specific short oligonucleotide hybridization with immunochromatographic strip. The gene of interest is PCR-amplified, hybridized to an allele-specific short oligonucleotide probe in the presence of a competitive oligonucleotide, and subjected to chromatography using a DNA test strip at room temperature. The genotype is unambiguously determined by the presence or the absence of visible purple lines on a strip. Feasibility of the method was demonstrated by the detection of a prevalent disease-causing mutations in glycogen storage disease type Ia (G6PC), medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (ACADM), non-ketotic hyperglycinemia (GLDC), and clinically important polymorphisms in the CYP2C19 gene and the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene (ALDH2). The procedure does not demand either technical expertise or expensive instruments and is readily performed in local clinical laboratories. The result is obtained within 10 min after PCR. This rapid and simple method of SNP detection may be used for point-of-care genetic diagnosis with potentially diverse clinical applications. Hum Mutat 22:166,172, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Effectiveness of the auscultatory and pH methods in predicting feeding tube placement

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 11-12 2010
e San Turgay
Aims and objectives., This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of the auscultatory and pH methods in predicting feeding tube location in critically ill patients. Background., There is confusion about how nurses should asses feeding tubes location at the bedside. The most common method for determining tube location is the auscultatory method. It is known that auscultation is an unreliable method and additional data relating to bedside methods are needed to assist nurses in making a decision regarding tube location. Design., A methodological study. Methods., The sample consisted of 44 new insertions of feeding tubes. Data from a total of 44 auscultations relating to tube position and gastrointestinal aspirates for pH were obtained from 32 critically ill adult patients ranging in age from 38,87 years. Results from the auscultatory and pH tests were compared with the location of the tube as determined by radiography. A total of 44 feeding tube applications were investigated using the auscultatory and pH methods and concurrently with X-rays to determine the feeding tube position. Nurses used the auscultatory method to predict tube position, a concurrent researcher aspirated fluid from the feeding tube, and samples were tested for pH within five minutes of radiographs taken to determine tube location. pH was measured with a test strip. Results., Mean pH level in the gastrointestinal aspirates was 4·23 (SD 1·20). Approximately 89% of the pH strip readings from gastrointestinal fluid were between 0,5. A pH of <5 successfully identified 90·4% of the 44 feeding tube cases. Conclusion., The pH method is effective in determining the feeding tube position, but the auscultatory method is not effective in determining the feeding tube position. Relevance to clinical practice., Simple bedside assessment of gastrointestinal aspirate pH is useful for predicting feeding tube position. [source]

Assessment of a pyrogallol red technique for total protein measurement in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs

JOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 12 2003
S. Behr
The measurement of protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid is a basic analytical method in neurology. In this study, a pyrogallol red technique using a human albumin calibrator previously validated in human medicine was tested for canine samples, and the results were compared with those obtained using urine test strips. Pyrogallol red significantly (P<0·05) but moderately underestimated purified dog albumin and globulins. The imprecision of the technique was low: intra- and between-series coefficients of variation were 1·6 and 4·3 per cent at protein concentrations of about 0·3 g/litre. Over 49 samples, there was good agreement between the pyrogallol red and test strip results (r=0·63), especially for low and high protein concentrations, but misclassifications were observed with,+'test strip readings. [source]

Reliable screening for acute pancreatitis with rapid urine trypsinogen-2 test strip

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 1 2000
Dr M.-L.
Background: This study was designed to evaluate the validity of a new rapid urinary trypsinogen-2 test strip (Actim Pancreatitis) for detection of acute pancreatitis in patients with acute abdominal pain. Methods: A total of 525 consecutive patients presenting with abdominal pain at two emergency units was included prospectively and tested with the Actim Pancreatitis test strip. Urine trypsinogen-2 concentrations were also determined by a quantitative method. The diagnosis and assessment of severity of acute pancreatitis was based on raised serum and urinary amylase levels, clinical features and findings on dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Results: In 45 patients the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis could be established. The Actim Pancreatitis test strip result was positive in 43 of them resulting in a sensitivity of 96 per cent. Thirty-seven false-positive Actim Pancreatitis test strips were obtained in patients with non-pancreatic abdominal pain resulting in a specificity of 92 per cent. Nine patients with severe acute pancreatitis were all detected by the dipstick. Conclusion: A negative Actim Pancreatitis strip result excludes acute pancreatitis with high probability. Positive results indicate the need for further evaluation, i.e. other enzyme measurements and/or radiological examinations. The test is easy and rapid to perform, unequivocal in its interpretation and can be used in healthcare units lacking laboratory facilities. © 2000 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd [source]

Positive photocontact responses are not elicited to sunscreen ingredients exposed to UVA prior to application onto the skin

CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 4 2007
Shyamal Wahie
Photocontact allergic reactions to sunscreen chemicals are investigated by photopatch testing. It has generally been assumed that for photocontact allergy to be shown, the putative pro-allergen must be in the skin at the time of ultraviolet A (UVA) exposure. However, this assumption has not, to our knowledge, been tested. The objective of this study was to determine whether positive photocontact responses can still be elicited when sunscreen chemicals are exposed to UVA prior to application onto the skin. 3 patients known to have positive photocontact reactions to a total of 6 sunscreen chemicals were studied. For conventional photopatch testing, patch test strips were applied onto the back and removed 1 D later, and the area was irradiated with UVA (5 J/cm2). For pre-irradiated testing, patches were exposed to the same dose of UVA immediately before application onto the back and then removed 1 D later. Skin responses were visually assessed by a blinded investigator 1 and 2 D after patch test removal. The same photocontact responses of the same magnitude, as previously documented for each patient, were seen at each of the conventional UVA-exposed patch test sites. However, in no patient was a positive response elicited at any of the sites where pre-irradiated patches had been applied. This study shows that positive photocontact responses to sunscreen chemicals do not occur when the putative pro-allergen is irradiated prior to application onto the skin. This suggests that for a photoallergic reaction to occur, the sunscreen chemical needs to be within the skin when activated by UVA. [source]

Development of a quick on-farm test to determine nitrate levels in soil

JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2005
Urs Schmidhalter
Abstract Crop management can be optimized and nitrogen (N) losses can be reduced with a better knowledge of soil-nitrogen availability, especially if this information becomes directly available on-site in a fast and cost-effective way. In this paper, simple on-farm methods to determine nitrate-N in field-moist soil samples immediately after sampling are described. The procedures include volumetric soil sampling, extraction based on manual shaking with tap water as universally available extractant, filtering soil/extractant mixtures on-site, on-site determination of the soil water content, and reflectometric nitrate measurements based on test strips. Using correction factors can compensate the impact of the temperature during the final nitrate measurement. An excellent agreement was found between the developed quick-test procedures and the standard laboratory procedure. The proposed quick-test has great potential to enable economical savings for farmers as well as benefiting the environment. Entwicklung eines Schnelltestes zur Bestimmung des Nitratgehaltes in feldfeuchten Böden vor Ort Eine bessere Kenntnis der Stickstoff (N)-Verfügbarkeit des Bodens trägt zu Verbesserungen in der Bewirtschaftung und zu reduzierten Stickstoffverlusten bei, insbesondere wenn diese Information unmittelbar vor Ort rasch und billig zur Verfügung steht. Einfache Schnellmethoden zur direkten Bestimmung von Nitrat in feldfeuchten Bodenproben unmittelbar nach der Entnahme vor Ort werden beschrieben. Die vereinfachte Prozedur ermöglicht es, volumenbezogene Bodenproben zu entnehmen und die Lagerungsdichte des Bodens verlässlich zu bestimmen. Als universal erhältliches Extraktionsmittel kann Leitungswasser eingesetzt werden. Minimale Schüttelzeiten für die Extraktion wurden bestimmt. Die Nitrat-Messungen werden danach im klaren Überstand der Lösung oder nach einer stark vereinfachten Filterprozedur reflektometrisch mit nitratsensitiven Teststäbchen durchgeführt. Der Bodenwassergehalt kann unmittelbar vor Ort vereinfacht bestimmt werden. Die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Nitrat-Bestimmung kann durch die Nutzung von Korrekturfaktoren kompensiert werden. Die vorgeschlagenen Schnelltestmethoden zeigten eine sehr gute Übereinstimmung mit Standardbestimmungen im Labor. Die Methoden sind anwenderfreundlich und können zu ökonomischen Einsparungen bei den Landwirten führen sowie einen Beitrag zur Entlastung der Umwelt leisten. [source]

Assessment of a pyrogallol red technique for total protein measurement in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs

Semi-quantitative tests of cyanide in foods and excreta of Three Hapalemur species in Madagascar

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Nayuta Yamashita
Abstract Three sympatric Hapalemur species (H. g. griseus, H. aureus, and H. (Prolemur) simus) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar are known to eat bamboo food parts that contain cyanide. How these lemurs avoid cyanide poisoning remains unknown. In this study, we tested for the presence/absence of cyanide in bamboo lemur foods and excreta to (1) document patterns of cyanide consumption among species with respect to diet, (2) identify routes of elimination of cyanide from the gastrointestinal tract, and (3) determine whether cyanide is absorbed from the diet. We tested 102 food, urine, and fecal samples for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) during two "pre-dry" seasons (April 2006, May 2007) using commercially available Cyantesmo test strips. The test strips changed color in the presence of HCN, and we recorded color change on a scale of 0 (no change) to 5 (cobalt) at preset intervals with a final score taken at 24,hr. We detected cyanide in bamboo food parts and urine of all three Hapalemur species. Time to color change of the test strips ranged from almost instantaneous to >12,hr incubation. Of the foods tested, only bamboo contained cyanide, but results differed among bamboo species and plant parts of the same species. Specifically, branch shoot and culm pith of the giant bamboo produced strong, immediate reactions to the test paper, whereas parts of liana bamboos produced either weak or no color change. Cyanide was present in almost all urine samples but rarely in fecal samples. This suggests that dietary cyanide is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract of the Hapalemur species and excreted, at least in part, by the kidneys. Samples from H. griseus exhibited lower, though still detectable, cyanide levels compared with H. simus and H. aureus. Differences among lemur species appear to be related to the specific bamboo parts consumed. Am. J. Primatol. 72:56,61, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Sterile pyuria in a population of wild white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar)

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2009
Barbara A. Beaman
Abstract Urinalysis is an emerging method for monitoring the health and energy balance of wild primates. Here, we report the first urinalysis of wild gibbons. We used multi-reagent test strips to monitor the health status of 52 individual white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) inhabiting Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Most urinary reference values were within normal ranges; however, regardless of age- and sex-class or monthly fruit productivity, we found unexpectedly high rates of urinary leukocytes (50% and 90% of individuals in 2001,2003 and 2006, respectively). In contrast to previous studies of African apes, this finding is coupled with the near absence of urinary nitrites, demonstrating pervasive levels of sterile pyuria. This result is the first reported case of sterile pyuria in a population of wild primates. The etiology of human sterile pyuria is diverse, but in all cases it is diagnostic of systemic inflammation. We discuss the potential causes of sterile pyuria in the gibbons of Khao Yai. Am. J. Primatol. 71:880,883, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]