Validity and interobserver agreement of reagent strips for measurement of glucosuria.

Background: Measurement of glucosuria by means of a visually readable reagent test strip is frequently used in a wide variety of clinical settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of this semi-quantitative measurement of glucosuria compared to laboratory measurements of glucose concentrations in urine.

Methods: Reagent test strips (Combur³Test® Roche) from 375 artificially supplemented samples of urine, covering a wide range of glucose concentrations, were independently read by three different observers.

MB11 BERAphone) hearing screening compared to ALGOportable in a Dutch NICU: a pilot study.

Objective: Since 2001 all Dutch Neonatal Intensive Care Units use a highly reliable automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) newborn hearing screening device, the (ALGOportable). A more recent AABR newborn hearing screening device, the MB11 BERAphone, does not make use of disposable ear couplers and has a different algorithm, a possible advantage with regard to a faster response acquisition. Use of the MB11 BERAphone is therefore potentially more cost effective and faster.