False negative hyperglucosuria test-strip reactions in laboratory mice

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Animal Physiology
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Hyperglucosuria detection is crucial for monitoring metabolic health.
• Commercial test strips are widely used for rapid glucose level assessment.
• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a known reducing agent that can interfere with certain diagnostic tests.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cause of inhibited hyperglucosuria test strips in laboratory mice.
• To identify the specific biological factor responsible for test strip inhibition.
• To propose a method for improving the accuracy of hyperglucosuria detection in mice.

Main Methods:

• Testing commercial hyperglucosuria test strips with urine samples from various laboratory mouse strains.
• Quantifying ascorbic acid levels in mouse urine.
• Comparing ascorbic acid levels between male and female mice.
• Analyzing the correlation between ascorbic acid concentration and test strip inhibition.

Main Results:

• All tested mouse strains exhibited sufficient ascorbic acid levels to inhibit commercial hyperglucosuria test strips.
• Ascorbic acid levels were significantly higher in male mice compared to female mice.
• A direct correlation was observed between elevated ascorbic acid concentrations and the degree of test strip inhibition.

Conclusions:

• Ascorbic acid is the primary cause of false-negative results when using commercial test strips for hyperglucosuria in laboratory mice.
• Understanding and accounting for high ascorbic acid levels, especially in males, is essential for accurate diagnosis.
• A modified testing protocol is necessary to overcome ascorbic acid interference and ensure reliable detection of hyperglucosuria in mice.