Testing a human CRP blood test for measuring dog inflammation levels

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase marker in dogs that is useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory disease. Rapid, reliable, and automated assays are preferable for routine evaluation of canine serum CRP concentration. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether canine serum CRP concentration could be measured reliably using an automated turbidometric immunoassay (TIA) designed for use with human serum. METHODS: A commercially available TIA for human serum CRP (Bayer, Newbury, UK) was used to measure canine serum CRP concentration. Cross-reactivity of antigen was evaluated by the Ouchterlony procedure. Intra- and interassay imprecision was investigated by multiple measurements on canine serum samples and serum pools, respectively. Assay inaccuracy was investigated by linearity under dilution and comparison of methodologies (canine CRP ELISA, Tridelta Development Ltd, Kildare, UK). Then the assay was applied to serum samples from 14 clinically healthy dogs, 11 dogs with neoplasia, 13 with infections, 8 with endocrine or metabolic diseases, and 10 with miscellaneous diseases. RESULTS: Cross-reactivity between canine serum CRP and the anti-human CRP antibody was found. Intra- and interassay imprecision ranged from 5.2% to 10.8% and 3.0% to 10.2%, respectively. Serum CRP concentration was measured in a linear and proportional manner. There was no significant disagreement and there was linear correlation of the results in the comparison of methodologies, except for a slight proportional discrepancy at low CRP concentrations (<10 microg/mL). Dogs with infections had a significantly higher concentration of serum CRP than did all other dogs, and dogs with neoplasia had a significantly higher concentration of serum CRP than did clinically healthy dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Canine serum CRP concentration can be measured reliably using the commercially available TIA designed for human CRP.