Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2016, 8th- 10th June, Milan, Italy 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. III, No. 1s  ISSN: 2283-3927 

   

 

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Keywords 

Alpha1-microglobulin, urine, cat, 

validation, enzyme-linked 

immunosorbent assay, chronic 

kidney disease 

 

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR 

Marco Giraldi 

marco.giraldi@unimi.it 

 

JOURNAL HOME PAGE 

riviste.unimi.it/index.php/haf 

Evaluation of a commercial ELISA for 

measurement of feline urinary alpha1-

microglobulin. 

 

M. Giraldia*, S. Paltrinieria, P. Scarpaa 

 

 

aDepartment of veterinary medicine (DIMEVET) University of Milan, Via 
Celoria 10, Milano 20133, Italy 

 

Abstract 

Urinary alpha1-microglobulin (a1M) in people is a biomarker of renal tubular damage (Bazzi, 2001), but 

it has not yet been used in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). 

The aim of this study was to validate an ELISA test marketed for the measurement of feline a1M. 

Thirty-four urine supernatants collected from cats affected by or at risk for CKD were assayed by SDS-

AGE, to classify patients according to presence or absence of low molecular weight proteinuria 

suggestive of tubular damage. 

Two samples with and one without tubular bands were used to evaluate intra-assay variability, linearity 

under dilution (LUD) and spiking recovery test (SRT) of the ELISA. Then, a1M concentration was 

measured in samples with (n°=10) or without (n°=25) tubular bands. The standard solution included in 

the kit was also assayed by SDS-AGE. 

The intra-assay CVs was >20%. LUD and SRT showed that the test is not accurate. No significant 

difference was found between a1M concentration in samples with and without tubular bands (median 

values: 35.19 and 40.83 μg/mL respectively). SDS-AGE on the standard solution failed to identify bands 

with molecular weight consistent with a1M but showed the presence of albumin. 

Results of this investigation did not support the use of this test to measure a1M in cats likely due to the 

absence of a1M in the standard solution provided with the kit.  
 

References 

Bazzi, C., Petrini, C., Rizza, V., Arrigo, G., Beltrame, A., Pisano, L., & D'amico, G., 2001. Urinary Excretion of IgG and alpha1-

Microglobulin Predicts Clinical Course Better Than Extent of Proteinuria in Membranous Nephropathy. American Journal of 

Kidney Diseases, 38(2), 240–248. 

 

 

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