Rapid detection of urinary albumin at low concentration by an agglutination inhibition techniqué

Subclinical elevation of urinary albumin excretion (microalbuminuria) identifies individuals at high risk of developing nephropathy in insulin-dependent diabetes. We have evaluated the performance of a new specific method for the rapid detection of microalbuminuria employing a latex agglutination inhibition technique. A total of 96 consecutive sterile first morning urine samples from insulin-dependent diabetic subjects were tested using AlbuScreen TM (Cambridge Life Sciences). Fifteen samples with albumin concentration greater than 27 micrograms/ml (range 27.6-780 micrograms/ml) read positive with AlbuScreen and were identified with 100% sensitivity and specificity. This test which is ten times more sensitive than the qualitative methods in current use and which detects a wide range of urinary albumin concentrations from microalbuminuria to heavier proteinuria may prove useful in the outpatients setting.