Urine is a liquid excretion formed in the kidneys, and its removal from the body is crucial for a variety of bodily functions, including filtering waste and regulating water levels. The composition of urine provides a plethora of information about one's hydration and urinary tracts. Urine also reveals critical info about various illnesses, disorders, or diseases. An individual’s urine can speak plenty about their health, which is why testing a sample of it is fairly common for diagnostics and screening.
The most common testing of urine is known as a urinalysis. A typical urinalysis test strip consists of an average of 10 test pads for diverse regents. The test pads found on a dipstick urinalysis strip change color. The color change is in response to chemical compositions found within the urine. Here’s further information about the testing process and how to read urinalysis test strips.
The Testing Process
Dipstick urinalysis testing is highly convenient, but false negatives or false positives can occur from error or a lack of procedure. Hence, all urine collection samples should be midstream and kept in a clean, sterile collection container.
Urinalysis tests may vary by type. However, the standard method of screening utilizes a fresh syringe or eyedropper to remove a small concentration. This method ensures that the remainder of the collected sample also remains sterile in case of re-testing or further laboratory analysis.
What To Know About the Color Chart
To understand how to read urinalysis test strips, you must be knowledgeable about the color chart. Depending on the concentration levels of a substance in urine, the fields on the testing strip change colors. You must compare the results on the strip with the color chart from the testing package. Always double-check and follow the instructions to a tee for the strips you are using. The provided color chart outlines exactly which colors indicate a normal or an abnormal deviant value.
Interpretation of Results
Urinalysis strips typically screen for the following substances: pH value, glucose, protein, ketone, nitrate, bilirubin, urobilinogen, white blood cells, and red blood cells. Results are easy to determine as long as they’re read at correct intervals. Best practices for reading results include holding the strip in your left hand, turning it 90 degrees, and reading from the bottom to the top.
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