Detection of neutrophil granulocytes in peritoneal dialysis effluents by means of the Cytur-test®

Abstract

Biochemical detection of neutrophils in peritoneal effluents by Cytur-test has been advocated as a fast and reliable bedside test when peritonitis is suspected in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The Cytur-test developed a light blue colour when the neutrophil count exceeded 10(8) l-1 in the dialysis effluents, while in urine the same reaction is seen at a neutrophil concentration of 10(7) l-1. The Cytur-test was inhibited by glucose at 25 g l-1 and by albumin at 10 g l-1. However, the median (range) concentrations of glucose and albumin of 60 dialysis effluents was 1.8 g l-1 (0.9-10.6 g l-1) and 1.1 g l-1 (0.3-5.2 g l-1) respectively. Thus, presence of glucose and albumin cannot be the only reason of the reduced reactivity of the Cytur-test in dialysis effluents when compared with urine.