Symmetric dimethylarginine is a biomarker used to assess glomerular filtration rate in the diagnosis, classification and monitoring of chronic kidney disease. Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP, presents acceptable analytical variability in SDMA immunoassay values and notes that clinician expectations for test performance expected much less variability than shown.
When interpreting SDMA in cats, it’s important to evaluate the patient and not the test result.”
Source: Clinician’s Brief, October 2021. Link. Key pearls:
- History, physical examination findings, and clinical insight may be more important than laboratory test results
- Trends in an individual patient may be more important than single measurements
- Regular screening in healthy and sick patients can generate meaningful data that can aid in making medical decisions
- In-clinic laboratory equipment should regularly undergo quality control
INSIGHTS: Let’s not miss the unspoken lesson in this article: While benefitting from science and technology, veterinary medicine (and animal stewardship for that matter) still require nuance and art when dealing with individual animals.