SEMIAUTOMATED QUANTITATION OF URINARY PROTEIN AND CREATININE

The application of personal computers to routine tasks such as the rec ording and manipulation of data can greatly increase the speed and acc uracy of the analyses. This report describes the use of a Macintosh co mputer and a BioTek microplate reader for the analysis of urinary prot ein and creatinine. Previously published assay methods for protein and creatinine were adapted for analysis using 96-well microplates. The a dapted assays had excellent linearity (r(2) = 0.99), with reduced vari ability compared to the previous methods. This resulted in increased s ensitivity as demonstrated by 95% confidence limits. In addition, redu ctions of both assay materials and sample sizes were realized. The dir ect connection of the computer and microplate reader reduced the time needed to record absorbance measurements and perform analyses when com pared to the more common protocols and methods of analysis. The assay protocols, equipment and interface, data file management, and methods of analysis are described. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.