URINALYSIS
dipstick accuracy. A urine sample reading negative for glucose tested trace positive with dipsticks exposed for seven days, and 1+ when the sticks were exposed for 28 days. A urine sample reading 1+ for blood with fresh dipsticks tested negative after exposure for 28 and 56 days.
Introduction of urine dipstick analysers The introduction of urine dipstick analysers marked a significant improvement in urinalysis compared to traditional manual visual reading, offering several features and benefits that enhanced both diagnostic accuracy and patient care. Automatic reading eliminates the subjectivity inherent in manual interpretation, thereby improving consistency and reliability. The ability to check strips for humidity ensures that degraded reagents can be identified and discarded, allowing the test to be repeated under appropriate conditions. Barcode reading capability further
strengthens traceability, while connectivity enables seamless integration of results with the electronic patient record (EPR). In addition, the option to print reports and review paper copies locally facilitates documentation and clinical review. The operation of these analysers is simple and rapid, fiting
Fig 3. Dipsticks with urine sample.
efficiently into clinical workflows with minimal training requirements. Despite these advantages, certain
limitations are associated with the use of urine analysers. Larger analysers are not easily portable due to their size and therefore may not be considered true point-of-care (POC) devices. Furthermore, most high-volume automated and semi- automated analysers require a direct mains power connection, reducing their
flexibility for use at the point of need. In cases where humidity measurement leads to strip rejection, repeat testing is necessary; however, if all strips in a container have been exposed to humidity, they may need to be discarded entirely, resulting in resource inefficiency. Urinalysis is used in every care seting, and millions of tests are conducted globally. Given that modern healthcare demands are puting extreme strain
February 2026
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