MICRAL TST II STRIPS & AMES URISTIX TST STRIP

Suresh K. Bansal, Diabetes Care Centre, Rourkela

Microalbuminuria screening can offer early detection of incipient nephropathy and generalized vascular damage in diabetics , hyprtenives and general population, after other causes of albuminuria are ruled out.  Micral test II strips are available for the Immunological, semiquantitative, rapid determination of micro albuminuria.  These are priced @ Rs.75.00 per strip and are of value and useful before albuminuria is detectable by dipsticks priced @ Rs.4.00 per strip.  It I recommend by the manufacturers, if proteinuria is confirmed (e.g. protein concentration of > 0.3g/l  is measured) with combur test, chemstrips , it is not usually necessary to screen for microalbuminuria.   AMES uristix test trips are similar to combur test, chemstrips.  This study is in relation to 27 consecutive urine samples reported as negative or trace proteinuria with Ames ™ uristix test strips and repeat test with Micral test II strips as per the procedure described in the product leaflet insert by the manufacturers.  The tests were done during March 2000 to June 2000 in our, clinical laboratory.  The results were as follows: 

The study suggests that micral testII strips testing is of value for detection of and semiquantitative estimation of microalbuminuria in urine samples reported as “trace” protienuria with Ames uristix strips testing. It also revealed that nothing extra is achieved and hence the suggestion that testing with micral test ii strips need not be undertaken, when cheaper Ames uristix strips testing, reports “Negative” proteinuria. This suggestion it accepted, then the additional expenditure in microalbuminuria detection in 60% samples ( in this study), can be saved.