Urinary test strips
A variety of test strips for urinalysis are available. Some have a specific purpose, e.g. Clinistix ® (glucose), Hemastix ® (blood), and Albustix ® (albumin). Others cast a wider net, with various combinations of the following:
Specifi c gravity, pH, Leucocytes, Nitrites, Glucose, Urobilinogen, Bilirubin, Ketones, Albumin or protein, Blood.
Glucose
Glycosuria results when tubular reabsorptive capacity for glucose is exceeded (plasma level >10mmol/L). A valuable screening tool, but less useful for diagnosis and monitoring of DM.
Renal glycosuria occurs when proximal tubular injury leads to a failure to reabsorb filtered glucose .
Protein
Convenient, highly specific, but less sensitive. Contain pH-sensitive indicators that change color when bound to negatively charged proteins.
Predominantly detect albumin and may not identify large amounts of other proteins
Dipsticks have completely superseded sulphosalicylic acid turbidity testing.
A +ve result occurs with protein excretion> 300mg/L.
Lower amounts of proteinuria, particularly in the context of diabetes 30 – 300mg/day
| Result; | Estimated quantity; |
| Trace | 0.15–0.3g/L |
| + | 0.3g/L |
| ++ | 1g/L |
| +++ |
2.5–5g/L |
| ++++ | >10g/L |
More Details about urine examination