Comparison between turbidimetric and pyrogallol red methods for the estimation of protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid at moi teaching and referral hospital, eldoret Kenya

Author: 
Dominic Alwala, Kiptanui Chebii and Finson Bargoria

There are a number of methods currently used for measuring proteins in cerebrospinal fluid which incorporate turbidimetry, colorimetry and electrophoresis. For a long time turbidimetry using 3% Trichloroacetic acid (3%TCA) was in routine use, however colorimetric methods like pyrogallol red are emerging and being embraced. This study was aimed at comparing cerebrospinal fluid protein measurement using 3% TCA turbidimetry andpyrogallol red colorimetry to determine whether the methods have co-relation in the values obtained. The study was carried out at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital where, CSF of 120 patients were randomly collected and protein level measurement done in parallel using the two methods (3% TCA turbidimetry andpyrogallol red). correlation coefficient (r) between pyrogallol red and 3% TCA was 0.876375with a p value of 0.00 at 5% α level and a confidence interval of 0.83 - 0.91 which thus showed there is variation in CSF protein values obtained using pyrogallol red and 3% TCA. Accuracy and precision were determined based on the control materials run from which it was observed that for both normal and high controls, pyrogallol red showed better accuracy and precision as compared to 3%TCA which thus makes use of pyrogallol red the preferred method for more reliable results

Paper No: 
1311