Investigation of a Commercial ELISA for the Detection of Canine Procalcitonin

Abstract

BackgroundRapid identification of sepsis enables prompt administration of antibiotics and is essential to improve patient survival. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker used to diagnose sepsis in people. Commercial assays to measure canine PCT peptide have not been validated.ObjectiveTo investigate the validity of a commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) marketed for the measurement of canine PCT.AnimalsThree dogs with sepsis, 1 healthy dog, 1 dog with thyroid carcinoma.MethodsExperimental study. The ELISA's ability to detect recombinant and native canine PCT was investigated and intra‐assay and interassay coefficients of variability were calculated. Assay validation including mass spectrometry of the kit standard solution was performed.ResultsThe ELISA did not consistently detect recombinant canine PCT. Thyroid lysate yielded a positive ELISA signal. Intra‐assay variability ranged from 18.9 to 77.4%, while interassay variability ranged from 56.1 to 79.5%. Mass spectrometry of the standard solution provided with the evaluated ELISA kit did not indicate presence of PCT.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe results of this investigation do not support the use of this ELISA for the detection of PCT in dogs.

Serum procalcitonin concentrations in dogs with induced endotoxemia

“…To date, there is little information regarding PCT in dogs. This is in part caused by a previous lack of valid assays for the detection of canine PCT . However, recently developed assays validated for the detection of canine PCT allow for further investigation of this potential biomarker in canine sepsis .…”

“…This is in part caused by a previous lack of valid assays for the detection of canine PCT. 13 However, recently developed assays validated for the detection of canine PCT allow for further investigation of this potential biomarker in canine sepsis. 14 Dogs with a clinical suspicion of sepsis have significantly higher serum PCT concentrations than do healthy controls.…”

The role of antimicrobials in the treatment of sepsis and critical illness‐related bacterial infections: Examination of the evidence

“…Developing novel biomarkers or using existing biomarkers will likely help the clinician have confidence in withdrawing antimicrobial therapy early and without causing harm to the patient. Assays for the 2 acute phase proteins used in people to guide antibiotic therapy, PCT and CRP, are available in canine specific forms and offer an accessible opportunity to improve our clinical practice . With the lack of evidence in this area and with the potential for improved antimicrobial prescribing practices in veterinary critical care the effect of short vs prolonged duration of antimicrobial therapy on patient recovery should be assessed with some urgency.…”

Biology of procalcitonin and its potential role in veterinary medicine

“…This semi-quantitative test is acceptable, because a PCT concentration of up to 0.1 μg/L is considered normal, whereas a greater than 10-fold increase (2-10 μg/L) is required for a diagnosis of severe sepsis. The assay is unreliable in the presence of hemolysis (Floras et al, 2014). For the research purposes PCR technics have been used to measure PCT for years except these technics.…”

“…Up-regulation of proinflammatory mediators in the absence of bacteria is likely the cause for this increase; however, in each of these patient cases, elimination kinetics of the hormokine shows a rapid decline in PCT. Persistently elevated PCT concentrations can therefore be used to distinguish sepsis or septic complications to other conditions (Floras et al, 2014).…”