13 Visual or automated dipstick testing for proteinuria in pregnancy?: Risk factors, prediction of preeclampsia

• Published in: Pregnancy hypertension Vol. 6; no. 3; p. 184
• Main Authors: Correa, Mauricio Esteban, Côté, Anne-Marie, de Silva, Dane André, Packianathan, Prianthiny, Wang, Li, von Dadelszen, Peter, Magee, Laura Ann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2016
• ISSN: 2210-7789; 2210-7797
• DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2016.08.095

To compare the Multistix 10SG/visual-read with two automated methods (Multistix 10SG/Clinitek50 and Chemstrip 10A/Urisys1100) to detect significant proteinuria among high-risk pregnant women. Prospective cohort study at British Columbia Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, Vancouver, Canada. Diagnostic accuracy determined by sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR−). 303 (89.6%) of 338 women had a urine sample tested by all three dipstick methods. 196 samples (64.7%) were collected in the morning (subsequent to their first void) and from outpatients. 107 samples (35.3%) were from inpatients at various times throughout the day. A PrCr ⩾30mg/mmol was present in 46 (15.2%) samples. The sensitivity for proteinuria was higher with Multistix 10SG/Clinitek50 (65.2%) than with Multistix 10SG/visual-read (41.3%, p<0.001) or Chemstrip 10A/Urisys1100 (54.3%, p=0.06). Specificity was >90% for all methods studied, although it was highest for Multistix 10SG/visual-read (98.4%) compared with either Multistix SG/Bayer-Clinitek50 (92.6%, p<0.001) or Chemstrip 10A/Urisys1100 (95.7%, p=0.04). For all methods, LR+ was good-excellent (>5), but LR- poor-fair (>0.20). 29 samples were discordant for proteinuria between methods. 28/29 women had negative proteinuria by Multistix 10SG/visual-read, but at least 1+ proteinuria by an automated method; 17/28 were false positives and 11/28 true positives. The automated dipstick methods tested were more sensitive than the visual method tested for proteinuria in pregnancy, but test performance is still only poor-fair as a ‘rule-out’ test for proteinuria. Whether the enhanced sensitivity would be worth the false positives, cost, and personnel training remains to be determined for detection of low-level proteinuria in pregnancy.