Dipstick analysis of urine chemistry: benefits and limitations of dry chemistry-based assays

ABSTRACT

Urinalysis is a commonly utilized laboratory test, and analysis of urine has been studied and used since ancient times. Urine contains a wide array of metabolites that can provide information regarding the current physiologic state of the body and clinical manifestations of disease. In this review, we discuss the mechanics of the dry chemistry component of the urine dipstick such as the reaction principles underlying various assays and potential effects of collection and storage on results. Additionally, we discuss the benefits and limitations of the urine dipstick as it pertains to its use as a low-cost tool in point-of-care settings and the reasoning for a lack of its use as a broad screening tool.

KEYWORDS:

• Urinalysis
• dipstick
• dry chemistry
• urine
• assay principles

Declaration of interest

The contents of the paper and the opinions expressed within are those of the authors, and it was the decision of the authors to submit the manuscript for publication.

No potential conflict of interest reported by the authors.

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.