A multicenter trial evaluation of the fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products test for detection and monitoring of bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Presently there is a lack of effective, noninvasive tests for the detection and monitoring of bladder cancer. Measurement of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products in urine has been shown to be a useful indicator of bladder carcinoma. The objective of this study was to evaluate the AuraTek FDP rapid immunoassay device for the detection of urinary fibrin/ fibrinogen degradation products associated with bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was conducted to compare AuraTek FDP with urinary cytology and hemoglobin dipstick for the detection of bladder cancer in 192 patients with a history of bladder cancer. RESULTS: AuraTek FDP was significantly more sensitive (68%) than conventional urinary cytology (34%, p < 0.001) or hemoglobin dipstick (41%, p < 0.001) in the detection of bladder tumors, particularly for low stage low grade disease. In subjects with invasive disease (T2-T4) the AuraTek FDP test had a sensitivity of 100%. Specificity of AuraTek FDP was 96% for healthy subjects, 86% in patients with urological disease other than bladder cancer and 80% for patients under surveillance for bladder cancer but with a negative cystoscopic finding at the time of assay. CONCLUSIONS: This simple, rapid (less than 7 minutes) point of care test is superior to conventional urine cytology and hemoglobin dipstick as an aid in the detection of bladder cancer.