Reagent strips are efficient to rule out spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotics.

BACKGROUND: The gold standard to diagnose spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a polymorphonuclear neutrophil count ≥ 250 cells/µl in ascitic fluid. This test is laborious and expensive. Urine reagent strips measuring leukocyte esterase activity have been proposed as a rapid and inexpensive alternative. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Combur reagent strip for diagnosing SBP. Furthermore the possible advantage of a photospectrometer reading over visual reading of the strip was investigated.

METHODS: This prospective study includes all ascitic fluid samples of cirrhotic patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic paracentesis over a 12-month period. The samples were collected for the standard diagnostic work-up and in addition tested with a bedside Combur reagent strip. The strip was read visually and with an automated spectrometer.

RESULTS: A total of 157 samples were obtained from 53 patients, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was diagnosed in 12 patients based on the ascitic polymorphonuclear neutrophil count. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the reagent strip according to the photospectrometer were 100%, 93%, 55% and 100% respectively, and 75%, 99%, 82% and 98%, respectively, for visual interpretation. The diagnostic accuracy of the photospectrometer was found to be higher than visual interpretation (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of leucocyte esterase reagent strips read out by a photospectrometer was comparable with the gold standard test and was excellent for excluding SBP. Our results support implementation of reagent strips in the diagnostic work-up of ascitic fluid.