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Reagent Strips (reagent + strip)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	92%

Selected Abstracts

The Use of Hemastix® and the Subsequent Lack of DNA Recovery Using the Promega DNA IQTM System

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 6 2009
Hiron Poon M.Sc.
Abstract:, Following implementation of our automated process incorporating the Promega DNA IQTM system as a DNA extraction method, a large number of blood-containing exhibits failed to produce DNA. These exhibits had been tested with the Hemastix® reagent strip, commonly used by police investigators and forensic laboratories as a screening test for blood. Some exhibits were even tainted green following transfer of the presumptive test reagents onto the samples. A series of experiments were carried out to examine the effect of the Hemastix® chemistries on the DNA IQTM system. Our results indicate that one or more chemicals imbedded in the Hemastix® reagent strip severely reduce the ability to recover DNA from any suspected stain using the DNA IQTM magnetic bead technology. The 3,3,,5,5,-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) used as the reporting dye appears to interact with the magnetic beads to prevent DNA recovery. Hydrogen peroxide does not seem to be involved. The Hemastix® chemistries do not interfere in any way with DNA extraction performed using phenol-chloroform. The incompatibility of the Hemastix® chemistries on the DNA IQTM system forced us to adopt an indirect approach using filter paper to carry out the presumptive test. [source]

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and bacterascites prevalence in asymptomatic cirrhotic outpatients undergoing large-volume paracentesis

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
José Castellote
Abstract Background and Aim:, Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and bacterascites prevalence in asymptomatic cirrhotic patients on large-volume paracentesis is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and bacterascites prevalence in a prospective cohort of cirrhotic outpatients following large-volume paracentesis with low risk of infection. Methods:, We prospectively studied all large-volume paracenteses performed in cirrhotic outpatients for 1 year. Patients with fever, abdominal pain, peritonism or hepatic encephalopathy were excluded from the study. The ascitic fluid was analyzed by means of a reagent strip with a colorimetric scale from 0 to 4. A strip test of 0 or 1 was considered negative. In those cases with a reagent strip ,2, conventional polymorphonuclear count was performed. Ascitic fluid culture was done into blood culture bottles in all cases. Results:, We performed 204 paracenteses in 40 patients. Nine cases were excluded. Culture-negative neutrocytic ascites was diagnosed in one case (0.5%), while bacterascites was diagnosed in six out of 195 cases (3%), mainly by gram-positive cocci. Conclusion:, The spontaneous bacterial peritonitis prevalence in outpatient cirrhotics with low risk of infection undergoing large-volume paracentesis is very low. Moreover, the prevalence of bacterascites is low and without clinical consequences. The routine analysis of ascitic fluid may be unnecessary in this clinical setting. Nevertheless, the use of reagent strips is a reasonable alternative due to its accessibility and low cost. [source]

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]

Assessing diabetic control , reliability of methods available in resource poor settings

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 3 2002
A. P. Rotchford
Abstract Aims and methods To examine the reliability of random venous or capillary blood glucose testing, random urine glucose testing, and a current symptom history in predicting a high HbA1c in Type 2 diabetic patients taking oral hypoglycaemic agents in a poorly controlled rural African population. Results For a cut-off point for HbA1c of , 8%, for random venous plasma glucose of , 14 mmol/L (present in 47.2% of subjects), specificity was 97.1% (95% CI 85.1,99.9), sensitivity 56.8% (48.8,64.5) and positive predictive value (PPV) 98.9% (94.2,99.9). HbA1c, 8% is predicted by a random capillary blood glucose of 17 mmol/L (present in 28.4% of subjects) with specificity 100% (90.0,100.0), PPV 100% (93.7,100.0) and sensitivity of 34.3% (27.2,42.1). HbA1c, 8% is predicted by the presence of heavy glycosuria (, 55 mmol/L) (present in 35.6%) with specificity 94.1% (80.3,99.3), sensitivity of 41.9% (34.1,49.9) and PPV 97.1% (89.9,99.6). Polyuria/nocturia (present in 31.3%) was the only symptom found to be associated with poor control, with a specificity for predicting HbA1c of , 8% of 81.5% (61.9,93.7), PPV 89.1% (76.4,96.4) and sensitivity 30.6% (22.9,39.1). Conclusions Where resources are short, random glucose testing can be used to detect a significant proportion of those with the worst control with a high degree of specificity enabling primary care staff to modify treatment safely. Where facilities are limited capillary blood or urine testing with reagent strips, may be substituted for venous plasma testing in the laboratory. A symptom history was insufficient to replace biochemical testing, but where this is unavailable, urinary symptoms may be helpful. Diabet. Med. 19, 195,200 (2002) [source]

Insufficient sensitivity of reagent strips for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
Veit Gülberg
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

A comparison of diagnostic efficacies among different reagent strips and automated cell count in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
Rungsun Rerknimitr
Abstract Background:, Currently, decision to give antibiotics in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) suspected patient depends mainly on the result of manual cell count, which requires significant waiting period. Recently, many reports on the efficacies of reagent strips and a few reports of automated cell count are available but there has been no direct comparison study. Aims:, This prospective study was to assess the diagnostic efficacies of different reagent strips (Aution, Multistix, Combur) and automated cell count. Methods and Results:, A total of 250 paracenteses were performed. There were 40 specimens obtained from patients with clinical suspicion for SBP, the rest were obtained from non SBP suspected patients. Thirty specimens from 250 samples (12%) were diagnosed as SBP by manual cell count. Automated system provided higher value for SBP diagnosis in all parameters (sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy; 87.5,99.1%) whereas the strip tests provided lower number in all parameters (80,98.6%). Multistix provided the lowest sensitivity (80%). The false negative rates by Aution, Multistix, Combur tests and automated cell count were 10%, 20%, 10% and 3.3%, respectively. By lowering the cut off for SBP diagnosis with the automated system to 200 cells/mm3, there was no false negative. Conclusions:, Comparing to reagent strips, automated cell count is a better screening tool for SBP diagnosis because it provides higher validity scores and a lower false negative rate. However, the discrepancy of cell count reading may occur, we suggest using a lower cut off for SBP diagnosis by the automated system. [source]

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and bacterascites prevalence in asymptomatic cirrhotic outpatients undergoing large-volume paracentesis

Ketone measurements using dipstick methodology in cats with diabetes mellitus

JOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2009
F. Zeugswetter
Objectives: To compare the results of urine and plasma ketone dip test in a group of diabetic cats with possible ketosis or ketoacidosis, using laboratory plasma ,-hydroxybutyrate measurements as the gold standard. Methods: According to clinical examinations, plasma ,-hydroxybutyrate measurements and venous blood gas analysis, 54 cats with diabetes mellitus were classified as non-ketotic (n=3), ketotic (n=40) or ketoacidotic (n=11). Plasma and urine acetoacetate concentrations were determined using urine reagent strips. Results: Although there was a significant positive correlation between blood and urine ketone measurements (r=0·695, P<0·001), the results differed significantly (Z=,3·494, P<0·001). Using the differential positive rates, the best cut-off value to detect cats with ketoacidosis was 1·5 mmol/l for urine and 4 mmol/l for plasma. The sensitivity/specificity was 82/95 per cent for urine and 100/88 per cent for plasma, respectively. Clinical Significance: The urine and plasma ketone dip tests have a different diagnostic accuracy, and results have to be interpreted differently. Because of its high sensitivity, the plasma ketone dip test performs better than the urine ketone dip test to identify cats with impending or established ketoacidosis. [source]

Usefulness of reagent strips for checking cure in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis after short-course treatment

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2010
J. CASTELLOTE
Summary Background, The usefulness of reagent strips to check cure of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis have not been evaluated to date. Aim, To assess the usefulness of ascitic fluid analysis by means of reagent strips to check cure after a 5-day antibiotic course. Methods, We prospectively included all cirrhotic patients diagnosed with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. On day 5, conventional and reagent strip ascitic fluid analyses were performed. Results, Fifty-three episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in 51 cirrhotic patients were included. Five patients died before the fifth day and in two patients, the control paracentesis yielded no ascitic fluid. In nine out of 46 cases (19.6%), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis had not resolved by day 5. In 32 out of 33 cases in which the ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear count was <250/,L at day five, the reagent strips was negative. The negative predictive value of the reagent strip at fifth day was 97% and the LR, 0.13. Conclusions, Almost 20% of episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis do not resolve with a short-course of antibiotic treatment. In view of the high negative predictive value and low likelihood ratio for a negative test, reagent strips analysis may be an alternative to conventional cytology if a 5-day antibiotic therapy is planned. [source]

Evaluating the use of plasma hematocrit samples to detect ketones utilizing urine dipstick colorimetric methodology in diabetic dogs and cats

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE, Issue 1 2003
Mark A. Brady DVM
Abstract Objective: To determine whether plasma from a heparinized hematocrit tube placed on a urine dipstick would accurately reflect (positive or negative) urine ketone results in diabetic dogs and cats. Design: Prospective study, 37 dogs and 43 cats, with a known history of diabetes or hyperglycemia, glucosuria, and symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus were tested. Setting: Veterinary Referral Hospital. Animals: Client owned dogs and cats. Interventions: None. Measurement and main results: Heparinized plasma and urine ketone results were recorded using urine reagent strips. Plasma dipstick results were compared to urine dipstick results as the standard. Results were recorded based on the color chart provided by the manufacturer. Two individuals were responsible for verifying the results of the colorimetric test. Test efficiency was 97% (sensitivity = 96%, specificity = 100%) for the canine population, 93% (sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 83%) for the feline population, and 95% (sensitivity = 98%, specificity = 91%) for the total population. Four of 80 animals were found to have discordant results (1 dog and 3 cats). Conclusion: Plasma from heparinized hematocrit tubes is clinically useful for detecting the presence or absence of ketonuria, and therefore ketosis, in diabetic dogs and cats using urine dipstick colorimetric methodology. [source]