Patent ID: 8313919
Filing Date: 2012-11-20
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of diagnosing the presence of renal injury that has led to acute renal failure or which signifies an immediate risk of developing acute renal failure in a human individual, said method comprising the steps of i) determining the concentration of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in a sample of urine taken from the individual; ii) determining the concentration of NGAL in plasma or serum from a sample of blood taken from the same individual immediately before, during or immediately after the urine sample was collected; iii) calculating the ratio of the NGAL concentration in the urine to that in the plasma or serum and comparing the value of the ratio obtained with a cutoff value determined from individuals of the same species without evidence of renal injury, iv) diagnosing the presence of the renal injury when the ratio has a value greater than the cutoff value, wherein the cutoff value is a value of at least 0.30 or higher.