Immunonephelometric assay for urinary total protein and albumin in mice.

A quantitative immunonephelometric assay for measuring total protein and albumin in mouse urine has been developed. Antisera to whole mouse sera or to mouse albumin was added to aliquots of urine and the antigen-antibody complexes formed were measured by laser nephelometry. Sample volumes were small (20 microliters) and the assay time was 90 minutes. The assays were sensitive to 10 mg/L and within-day and day-to-day precision studies demonstrated coefficients of variation of less than 15%. Average urinary total protein and albumin concentrations for random urine specimens in female C3H mice (age 80-150 days) were 42 and 24 mg/L respectively. Urinary total protein and albumin to creatinine ratios were also determined.