Comparison of the VIDAS and IMMULITE-2000 methods for cortisol measurement in canine serum

Serum cortisol concentration is often measured in dogs for the diagnosis and monitoring of adrenal disease. An enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (VIDAS method) on the MiniVidas analyzer has been validated for the measurement of cortisol concentration in human serum and could have applications for canine samples.

The aim of this study was to compare canine cortisol results obtained using the VIDAS method with those obtained using the IMMULITE-2000 immunoassay, which has previously been validated for canine serum.

The concentration of cortisol in 40 canine serum samples was determined concurrently with the VIDAS and IMMULITE methods, the latter as the reference method. Pearson's correlation coefficient, linear, and Deming regression analyses and Bland-Altman analysis were used to compare the 2 methods. Acceptability of the new method was judged using a medical decision chart (MEDx chart).

Cortisol concentrations obtained with the IMMULITE method ranged from 23.1 to 1380 nmol/L. Correlation (r=.977) and simple linear regression (slope=1.0722, confidence interval [CI] 0.996-1.148; intercept=-4.799, CI -42.838 to 33.240) revealed no proportional or constant error. Based on Deming regression and a Bland-Altman plot the 2 methods gave comparable results. The MEDx chart indicated that performance of the new method was good at decision limits of 40, 132, and 480 nmol/L.

Results of the VIDAS method were comparable to those of the IMMULITE-2000 reference method such that the VIDAS may be used as an alternative assay to evaluate serum cortisol concentration in dogs for the diagnosis of adrenal disease.