Medical professionals use a urine dipstick test to screen for diseases and health problems.The test strip changes color when it is saturated with urine to show the presence of compounds.It is necessary to collect a fresh sample in order to use a subject's urine to determine their health.You can make a diagnosis if you mark any changes on the strip.
Step 1: You should wash your hands.
Rub antibacterial soap between your hands for at least 20 seconds after you wet them.After washing your hands, use a clean single-use paper towel to dry them.When doing a test on body fluid, you should always wear gloves.
Step 2: The specimen container should be filled with urine.
Fresh urine should be used for urinalysis tests.Put the collection container underneath the urethra or penis tip if you stop urinating in the toilet.Attach the lid to the container by urinating directly into it.It is important to keep the urine away from the environment to ensure an accurate reading.You can place the strip directly under the stream for a home test.Shake or swirl the container to mix urine.
Step 3: Put the test strip in the urine.
The thick end of the dipstick has a gripping surface on it.Make sure you cover all the test squares with the strip.Remove the strip from the container after you have saturated it.The container has a strip on it.Most urine test strips have a number of squares.Strips with 5 squares are used to test for a number of things.There are strips with 7 squares.
Step 4: To clean the edge of the strip, use an absorbent material.
Don't touch the pads with anything.The testing area should be kept clean and sanitary by using an absorbent paper towel or sheet of filter paper.The urine will react to the test squares.The urine should not be on the side of the strip.Don't rub the dipstick with another object.
Step 5: Before reading the strip, turn it sideways.
In a horizontal position, you can make sure that the reactive chemicals don't run from one square to another.Keeping the test squares facing up will make them visible.The urine from different squares can affect the results of the test.After testing the urine sample, wash your hands.
Step 6: Wait 2 minutes for the results.
It can take anywhere from 30 to 120 seconds for the compounds in the urine to start reacting with the reagents on the test squares.It's a good idea to read the instructions for the test you're doing.The squares will start to change color once a reaction is underway.It's not possible to track the time in your head.If you keep a close eye on the second hand of your watch, you will know when the test is over.
Step 7: The test squares are compared to the color chart.
Each package of test strips should have a color chart.When reading the strip, keep this chart handy.It will help you narrow down your course of treatment by telling you what substances cause a change in color.The color chart may be included as a separate sheet on the packaging itself.
Step 8: The test squares should be read in chronological order.
The squares on the testing strip are designed to react in sequence.It will take about half a minute for you to see any changes.If you want to check the value of the first square, move on to the next and review the entire strip.To make sure you are examining the squares in the correct order, take a few moments to read the instructions specific to the brand of test strips.The longer the urine remains exposed, the more likely it is to produce false positives, so any color changes after the initial two minutes should be ignored.
Step 9: Look at the results carefully.
Different colors show the presence of substances.While elevated nitrite levels are common with UTIs, high amounts of proteins will turn the corresponding square into a cyan hue.Refer to your color chart frequently to get a better idea of the significance of each value.Regardless of what you are screening for, you should always take a look at the pH, specific gravity, and GLU of a urine sample.Potentially serious conditions can be found in the leukocyte and ketone ranges.
Step 10: The urine should be tested immediately.
As soon as possible, the sample should be analyzed.Fresh urine should be refrigerated until it can be examined.It will take longer for the breakdown of chemicals and the emergence ofbacteria if it is kept in cold conditions.If the sample is going to be more than 2 hours before you can get around to testing it, you should keep it refrigerated.If the samples have been exposed to air or left to sit at room temperature, they should be discarded.You can take a new sample at a later time if necessary.
Step 11: Look at the physical characteristics of the urine.
The first clues about what is going on inside the body are provided by the way a sample looks.Clear or faintly yellow urine is healthy.You don't need a full urinalysis to tell you that something is off if the urine is dark, cloudy, or has an abnormal odor.Before you collect your sample, make sure you drink enough water.Blood in the urine may be orange, brown, or reddish.A reaction to medication can cause greenish-blue urine.
Step 12: The dipstick test is not perfect.
Urinysis is a good way to get an overview of a patient's health, but it is not a perfect system.The passing seconds andbacteria can all contribute to inaccurate readings.Testing machines and other materials can sometimes provide false results.A detailed blood screening may be necessary if you need to detect potentially serious health problems.