ATAGO PAL-RABBIT Pocket Digital Refractometer for Rabbit Urine Specific Gravity Measurement

Overview

The ATAGO PAL-RABBIT is a purpose-engineered handheld digital refractometer designed exclusively for rapid, field-deployable specific gravity (SG) measurement of rabbit urine in preclinical research, veterinary clinical practice, and laboratory animal health monitoring. It operates on the principle of critical-angle total internal reflection: incident light passes through a sapphire prism in contact with the urine sample; the resulting refraction angle—directly correlated to solute concentration—is optically detected and converted into a precise specific gravity value (dimensionless, referenced to water at 20 °C). Unlike generic refractometers, the PAL-RABBIT features a narrow, biologically optimized optical path and algorithm-tuned calibration curve aligned to the physiological SG range of rabbit urine (1.0000–1.0600 typical; up to 1.1000 for pathological evaluation), minimizing interpolation error and enhancing diagnostic confidence. Its integrated Peltier temperature control maintains the prism surface at a stable 20.3 °C ±0.2 °C—eliminating manual temperature correction and ensuring compliance with ISO 21748 guidelines for refractive index standardization.

Key Features

• Optimized optical system with high-precision sapphire prism and LED light source for long-term stability and resistance to chemical degradation from urine matrix components.
• Automatic temperature compensation (ATC) via solid-state Peltier element—no external water bath or manual adjustment required.
• Backlit LCD display with 4-digit resolution (0.0001 SG) and intuitive one-button operation: measure, zero, and calibrate functions accessible without menu navigation.
• On-board memory stores up to 100 measurement records with timestamp and operator ID (via optional NFC tag integration).
• Rugged IP65-rated housing with rubberized grip, drop-tested to 1.2 m onto concrete—designed for use in vivariums, mobile veterinary units, and biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) animal procedure rooms.
• Factory-calibrated using NIST-traceable reference solutions; supports user verification and two-point calibration per ISO/IEC 17025 procedures.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The PAL-RABBIT accepts 0.3 mL minimum sample volume applied directly to the prism surface. It is validated for undiluted, uncentrifuged rabbit urine—including samples with moderate turbidity or mucoid content—without clogging or prism fouling. The instrument meets essential regulatory expectations for GLP-compliant animal facility instrumentation: full audit trail capability (when paired with ATAGO’s optional LogView software), electronic signature support, and 21 CFR Part 11–ready data export (CSV/Excel). All calibration and measurement logs include traceable metadata: date/time, ambient temperature, operator ID, and instrument serial number. It conforms to ASTM D115 for refractometer performance verification and aligns with the European Pharmacopoeia monograph 2.2.12 (Refractometric Determination) for biological fluid analysis.

Software & Data Management

Data export is performed via micro-USB or optional NFC pairing to Android/iOS devices running ATAGO’s LogView Lite application. LogView enables batch export of measurement histories, generation of QC reports (including mean, SD, CV%, and trend charts), and automatic flagging of out-of-range results (e.g., SG >1.080 indicating possible dehydration or renal pathology). All exported files are digitally signed and time-stamped using embedded hardware security module (HSM)-derived keys, satisfying ALCOA+ (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate) data integrity requirements. Raw measurement values are stored in non-volatile memory with write-protection against accidental overwrite.

Applications

• Monitoring hydration status and renal concentrating ability in New Zealand White, Dutch Belted, and other common laboratory rabbit strains during toxicology studies.
• Supporting IACUC-mandated health surveillance protocols in academic and contract research organizations (CROs).
• Point-of-care assessment of urinary tract infection (UTI) progression or response to diuretic therapy in companion rabbit clinical settings.
• Quality control of urine collection protocols across multi-site preclinical trials—ensuring inter-laboratory comparability under ISO 17043 proficiency testing frameworks.
• Integration into automated vivarium data ecosystems via API-enabled LogView Server (optional enterprise license).

FAQ

What is the recommended calibration frequency for routine rabbit urine testing?
Calibration verification should be performed before each daily session using ATAGO-certified SG 1.0200 and 1.0400 reference fluids; full two-point calibration is required after every 50 measurements or when ambient temperature shifts exceed ±5 °C.
Can the PAL-RABBIT be used for other species’ urine?
It is not validated for canine, feline, or rodent urine due to differing solute composition and refractive index–concentration relationships; use of species-specific models (e.g., PAL-URIC for human urine) is advised.
Does the device meet FDA requirements for regulated animal studies?
Yes—the PAL-RABBIT supports 21 CFR Part 11 compliance when used with LogView Enterprise, including role-based access control, electronic signatures, and immutable audit trails.
How is temperature stabilization achieved without external cooling?
A closed-loop Peltier thermoelectric module actively cools or heats the prism assembly to maintain 20.3 °C ±0.2 °C, independent of ambient conditions between 10–40 °C.
Is cleaning solution compatibility documented for biohazard decontamination?
The prism and housing are compatible with 70% ethanol, 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, and ATAGO-recommended enzymatic cleaners; avoid acetone or chlorinated solvents per JIS K 0063 material compatibility specifications.