Multiparameter Urinox Urine Wellness Test

Urine tests can sometimes give false results, meaning they show a problem when there isn't actually one (false positive) and similarly do not correctly determine a problem when there is one (false negative). This can happen for different reasons as explained below.

False Positives on a Urine Protein Test

Urine tests can sometimes give false-positive results for different reasons, such as if the urine is too old or if certain substances or medications are present. Also, if the test is not used properly or if the urine container is not sterile or properly cleaned, it can also give a false-positive result. So, it's important to take these factors into account when interpreting urine test results.

For the urine protein test, false-positive results may occur in highly buffered alkaline urine, which may result from alkaline medication or stale urine. If the dipstick is left in the urine for too long, the chemicals (buffers) on the reagent pads may wash out, resulting in the strip turning blue or green, even if the protein is not present.

Detergents, antiseptics, and quaternary ammonium compounds used to clean the urine container can also result in false positives. Therefore, collecting urine samples in clean, sterile containers is highly recommended. Certain medications and substances, such as phenazopyridine, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and chlorhexidine gluconate (commonly found is skin cleansers), may also cause false positives. Additionally, the presence of blood or high levels of bilirubin may interfere with the accuracy of the test.

Alkaline urine, highly pigmented urine, or concentrated urine (with high specific gravity) can also cause false positives.

False Negatives on a Urine Protein Test

False-negative results can occur in dilute urines and when proteins other than albumin are present in slightly elevated concentrations.

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An alkaline urine can generate false-positives. A urine specimen may have a high pH because of medication, vegetarian diet, or if the urine is old. The test can also show a positive result if the test strip is left in the urine for too long. The cleaning products used to clean the urine container can also affect the test results. Some medications and substances used in medical treatments can also cause the test to show a false-positive result. Blood in the urine or high levels of bilirubin can also make the test show a false-positive result.

No, each parameter on the test strip has a different normal color. You should not compare the test strip colors before wetting the strip with urine. The colors of dry pads have no clinical significance.

The specific gravity of urine represents how concentrated the urine sample is.

Healthy adults have urine-specific gravity ranging from 1.003 to 1.030. Reduced specific gravity indicates diabetes and other renal disorders, while elevated levels indicate liver disease, excessive loss of free water, or congestive heart failure. A higher-than-normal concentration often is a result of not drinking enough fluids.

A urine pH test measures the level of acid in urine. Normal urine is slightly acidic, with pH values ranging from 5 to 8.

The urine pH test provides insight into how our bodies metabolize our food. In addition, it gives clues about the health of the kidneys and urinary tract.

Refer to this blog to learn about the pH of urine and what it suggests about our health.

Urine tests can sometimes give false results, meaning they show a problem when there isn't actually one and similarly do not correctly determine a problem when there is one. This can happen for different reasons, such as if the urine is too old or if certain substances or medications are present. Also, if the test is not used properly or if the urine container is not sterile or properly cleaned, it can also give false results.

Common reasons that cause false readings on a urinalysis test are:

• Taking specific drugs, such as Levodopa, Phenazopyrazine, and a high dosage of Vitamin C can cause a false positive for Ketone.
• Dehydration, high specific gravity, and a delayed urine sample can also cause a false positive for Ketone.
• Urine with a pH of 7.5, urine with the presence of penicillin, pus, semen, or vaginal can cause a false positive for high protein in the urine.
• A high dosage of Vitamin C can cause false-negative nitrite.
• Drug Tetracycline can cause false-negative leukocytes.
• Vitamin C in urine can also cause false-negative results for blood cells and glucose.

If none of the reagent pads on your urine test strip change color, it is still a valid result and quite common. This generally means a negative result for all parameters. Make sure all pads are thoroughly wet.

Leukocytes and Nitrite are considered key parameters to aid in the diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and bladder infections. A positive leukocyte or the presence of nitrite in the urine supports the diagnosis of UTI. A color darker than cream is considered a positive result for both leukocytes and nitrites.

Refer to this blog for more details on how to interpret results.

To avoid color bleeding from adjacent pads, it is not recommended to urinate directly on multiparameter urine test strips. Use a clean disposable container to collect the urine sample, preferably a sterile cup.

If you pee directly on the urine strip, all ten parameters may not get equally wet. Cross-bleeding will result in inaccurate results.

Each parameter takes a different amount of time to yield the result. The time ranges from 30 seconds to 120 seconds. The test time for each parameter is mentioned on the package insert and color key against each parameter, and the results should be read at the specified time without delay. The color changes that appear after 2 minutes are of no diagnostic significance.

Urine parameters can change throughout the day due to your diet and fluid intake.

The first-morning sample is usually considered best because it is more concentrated and more likely to detect abnormalities. The urinalysis that tests specifically for nitrites and bacteria requires time to convert nitrates to nitrites. Supposing that if you have slept for at least four hours without urinating, the bacteria has had sufficient time to complete the conversion and provide a rich sample for testing.

Your healthcare provider can guide you on the best times to conduct urinalysis based on your health and body needs. A 24-hour urine test is sometimes recommended to track daily urine parameters

The urine should be collected using the ‘Clean Catch’ method. To make sure that you get an accurate urinalysis test every time, please see some important points below:

• Use only clean, preferably, sterile urine specimen containers.
• Before taking the test, make sure that your hands and genital area are clean.
• Midstream urine is the best sample for urinalysis.
• Examination of the urine with test strips should be carried out as soon as possible.
• Cleaning agents and disinfectants can distort results (false-positive findings for different parameters).

The Urinox urine test strips can be used for several reasons. For example:

1. To check overall health for various disorders, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease.
2. To help diagnose a medical condition. Urinalysis is a powerful tool to detect a broad range of health issues such as proteinuria, kidney diseases, liver health, urinary tract infections, and other metabolic and systematic diseases. Suppose you’re experiencing abdominal pain, back pain, frequent or painful urination, blood in your urine, or other urinary problems; a urinalysis may help diagnose the cause of these physical symptoms.
3. To monitor a medical condition. If you’ve been diagnosed with a medical condition, such as kidney disease or a urinary tract disease, urinalysis regularly helps monitor your condition and treatment.

Routine urinalysis is, therefore, recommended to keep track of our health and overall well-being. It is a standard test used in clinical practice to know the state of general well-being and organ health.

A urinalysis strip (dipstick) is a narrow plastic strip that has several square-shaped pads of different colors attached to it. Each small pad represents a chemical parameter (a component of the test) used to interpret urinalysis. When dipped in the urine, pad colors change in response to the chemical characteristics of the urine. The color changes are noted at specific time intervals and compared against the reference color chart/key.