Urine strip test — Understanding its limitations

Routine urinalysis is a cost-effective, non-invasive test used as an indicator of health or disease for metabolic and renal disorders, infection, drug abuse, pregnancy, and nutrition. Urine chemistry can be completed in a number of different ways, ranging from manual reading of a visual urine test strip to the use of semi-automated analyzers to loading the sample on a fully automated urine chemistry analyzer. There is one thing that all methods have in common: a urine chemistry reagent strip.

While urinalysis remains a routinely ordered laboratory test, today most of the emphasis focuses on automating urine microscopy to reduce manual, subjective microscopic work. Urine chemistry analysis is viewed by many as a screening tool that can help aid in the diagnosis of some common conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney or liver diseases, or diabetes, among others. It is important to remain focused on urine chemistry and better understand common test interferences.

Urine chemistry reagent strips comes in many different configurations, depending on their use. The most common tests include bilirubin, urobilinogen, glucose, ketones, protein, blood, nitrite, leukocyte esterase, and pH. In addition, some manufacturers include urine chemistry reagent pads for specific gravity, ascorbic acid, microalbumin, creatinine, and color. While urine chemistry testing is common, it is important to understand the test and its limitations to ensure accuracy of the test and recognize the factors that can cause incorrect results. Manufacturers have improved urine chemistry analysis by including additional tests to easily identify common interferences.

Bilirubin

Bilirubin (BIL) is a waste product of red blood cell (RBC) destruction. The primary source of bilirubin is the daily release of hemoglobin from the breakdown of RBCs in the reticuloendothelial system. In addition, RBC breakdown can occur in the bone marrow or other heme-containing proteins. The liver normally breaks down most of the bilirubin.

Healthy individuals exhibit a “negative” reading; very small amounts (0.02 mg/dL) can be found in urine but are undetected by routine testing techniques. The presence of bilirubin can indicate liver dysfunction such as jaundice, hemolytic disease, or obstruction of the bile duct or biliary system. A high amount of bilirubin, especially, affects the brain of newborns.

False positives can be caused by drugs that color the urine red, such as phenazopyridine, or large quantities of chlorpromazine metabolites. False negatives can be caused by the presence of ascorbic acid, increased nitrite concentrations, or improper sample storage.

Urobilinogen

Urobilinogen (URO) is a breakdown product of bilirubin. When high concentrations form in the body, the liver may not be able to break down all of the bilirubin present. Urobilinogen is produced in the intestines as bacteria metabolizes bilirubin. Small amounts (≤1 mg/dL or ≈1 Ehrlich unit) may be found in normal urine. However, the presence of urobilinogen is found with liver dysfunction, excessive destruction of RBC (hemolytic anemia, pernicious anemia and malaria), hepatitis, portal cirrhosis, and congestive heart failure.

Interferences for urobilinogen include formalin, high concentrations of nitrites, and drugs or substances that color the urine. If samples don’t equilibrate to room temperature before testing, that can produce an incorrect result.

Ketones

Ketones (KET) are normally not found in urine, but can be present when the body breaks down fat for energy. The body normally obtains energy from carbohydrates. If the carbohydrate supply is reduced, not absorbed properly, or not broken down metabolically, the body will use fat for energy. Ketones are associated with uncontrolled diabetes, vomiting, starvation, fasting, frequent strenuous exercise, and when the body uses fat instead of glucose for energy, which often occurs in people on a high-protein diet.

Agents containing free sulfhydryl groups can cause interference with ketone detection. Highly pigmented urine can result in false positive results, and improper sample or test strip storage may provide false negative results.

Glucose

Glucose (GLU) supplies the body with energy. In healthy individuals, glucose is reabsorbed by the kidney tubules and not present in the urine. However, if the concentration of blood glucose becomes too high (160-180 mg/dl), then the tubules can no longer reabsorb glucose and it will pass into the urine. This presence of glucose in the urine is called glycosuria. It is often associated with endocrine disorders such as diabetes, kidney impairment, central nervous system damage, and pancreatic disease. Other conditions associated with glycosuria include burns, infections, and fractures. Glycosuria is also associated with pregnancy.

High concentrations of ketones, decreased urine sample temperature, and increased specific gravity affect the sensitivity of the glucose pad. Increased ascorbic acid can also pose an interference. Bacterial glycolysis can occur with improper storage and can provide a false negative result.

Protein

The presence of protein (PRO) in the urine, otherwise known as proteinuria, is often the first indicator of kidney disease. It can also be indicative of other diseases such as nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, multiple myeloma, and pre-eclampsia. Exposure to cold, strenuous exercise, high fever, and dehydration can also cause the presence of protein in the urine.

The protein pad is most sensitive to albumin as opposed to other proteins. False positive results can be found with extremely alkaline samples. In addition to protein urine chemistry pads, there are also urine chemistry strips that test for microalbumin and creatinine for further assessment.

Blood

Blood (BLD) is not normally present in the urine and may not be visually present. The abnormal presence of RBCs in the urine is called hematuria, and the presence of hemoglobin in the urine is called hemoglobinuria. Blood in the urine is associated with kidney or urinary tract diseases, severe burns, infections, trauma, exposure to toxic chemicals or drugs, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, renal or genital disorders, tumors, transfusion reactions, intravascular hemolysis, and hemolytic anemia. Strenuous exercise and menstruation can also cause the presence of blood in the urine. A positive result should be followed up with a microscopic correlation to assess for the present of RBCs and casts.

Urine specimens must be well mixed to ensure that RBCs have not settled out. Ascorbic acid should be considered an interferent when RBCs are present during a microscopic exam but the blood urine chemistry test is negative.

Nitrites

Nitrates (NIT) are consumed in the diet as green vegetables and are normally excreted without nitrite formation. The presence of bacteria in the urinary tract (e.g., bladder, kidney, etc.), can lead to the production of nitrites. Nitrite and leukocyte esterase screening help identify the presence of an infection. This screen should not replace further microscopic examination for bacteria or a culture to identify and quantify the bacteria present. It is used to quickly identify nitrate-reducing bacteria at a low cost.

Proper nitrite screening should be performed on a urine sample collected in the morning or after it has been retained in the bladder for at least four hours. High concentrations of ascorbic acid and improper storage can provide false results.

Leukocytes

Normal urine may contain a small number of white blood cells (WBCs) or leukocytes (LEUs). An increase in the presence of leukocyte esterase, an enzyme found in leukocytes, indicates inflammation in the urinary system. A WBC increase can be present with or without bacteriuria. If leukocytes are present without bacteria, there is usually a kidney or urinary tract infection (UTI) involving trichomonas, yeast, chlamydia, mycoplasmas, viruses, or tuberculosis. A positive nitrite and leukocyte esterase is a good indication for the performance of further microscopic examination.

High glucose, protein, and specific gravity can interfere with the leukocyte-esterase reaction, causing inaccurate results. In addition, specific antibiotics, drugs, and food (beets) can affect the chemical reaction.

pH

The kidneys play a major role in maintaining proper pH balance. Urine pH can affect the stability of formed particles in the body. Acidic urine (i.e., 4.5-6.9) is associated with, but not limited to, high-protein diets or the ingestion of cranberries, starvation, severe diarrhea, chronic lung disease, and UTIs with acid-producing bacteria (Escherichia coli) as well as certain medications. Alkaline urine (i.e., 7.0-7.9) is associated with, but not limited to, vegetarian or low-carbohydrate diets, vomiting, hyperventilation, UTIs with urease-producing bacteria, and certain medications. pHs that are below 4.5 should be suspected of adulteration, and pHs that are above 8 are often tied to improperly stored urine specimens.

Specific gravity

Specific gravity (SG) is a measure of the density of a urine. The more particles (i.e., salts, glucose, protein, etc.) in a urine, the higher the specific gravity. High specific gravity is caused by dehydration, diarrhea, heart failure, and glucose in the urine (i.e., diabetes). Low specific gravity is caused by kidney failure, diabetes insipidus, renal tubular necrosis, and the intake of too much fluids.

Urine test strips used for visual analysis often have a pH reagent pad. A limitation of the reagent pad is that it only measures the ionic solutions and can be susceptible to pH readings. Fully automated urine chemistry analyzers often use an onboard refractometer to obtain a specific gravity reading. A refractometer can be affected by particle size, temperature, and concentration of the solution as well as light wavelength. Some manufacturers have a specific gravity correction factor for high protein and glucose concentrations.

Ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid, otherwise known as vitamin C, can be found in various foods and supplements. It is also a common interferent with urine chemistry reagent pads. When a urine sample has high levels of ascorbic acid, the reagent pads for blood, glucose, nitrite, and bilirubin may not react properly. This especially interferes with blood measurements at low levels. Clinicians should consider asking whether the patient is taking vitamin C when collecting a urine sample. We see more people taking vitamin C or vitamin C-like substances during the winter months or when traveling by plane, in an effort to boost their immune system.

Not all strip manufacturers have an ascorbic acid detection pad, as ascorbic acid is not commonly reported out. When the sample tests positive for ascorbic acid, the laboratorian may append a note with the results identifying potential interferences to the physician.

Color

Normal urine ranges from yellow/amber in color to clear or transparent and has a characteristic odor. A change in color, clarity, or odor is not necessarily a sign that something is incorrect. Urine changes color based on the body’s chemistry, food, medication intake, and state of hydration. Below is a list of colors, other than shades of yellow, found during urinalysis testing, along with their associated causes:

• Orange: dehydration; certain medications; liver or bile duct issues
• Blue/green: dyes in food or for kidney and bladder tests; medications such as amitriptyline, indomethacin (Indocin) and propofol (Diprivan); familial benign hypercalcemia, also known as blue diaper syndrome; UTIs caused by pseudomonas bacteria
• Red/pink: UTIs; enlarged prostate; tumors; kidney cysts; long-distance running; kidney or bladder stones; the use of medications such as rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) or phenazopyridine (Pyridium); the use of some laxatives; the use of chemotherapy drugs. In addition, eating beets, blackberries, or rhubarb may cause the urine to turn red or pink
• Brown: liver and kidney disorders; UTIs; extreme exercise; ingesting large amounts of certain foods (e.g., fava beans, rhubarb, or aloe); medications such as the antimalarial drugs chloroquine and primaquine, antibiotics metronidazole (Flagyl) and nitrofurantoin
• Cloud/murky: urinary tract infection (UTI)

Urine color can interfere with some of the aforementioned tests during the color reaction process that takes place on the pad. For this reason, some manufacturers have a “blank” or color compensation pad on the dipstick. This color compensation pad will identify the color of the urine, and the analyzer will “subtract out” the color from other readings to provide a more accurate result.

The lab’s perspective

As noted above, specimen storage is a concern for a number of tests. Most manufacturers require testing within one to two hours of collection. If this is not feasible, samples are often refrigerated or stored in a preservative tube for testing at a later date. It’s important to note that few manufacturers have validated the use of preservative tubes for analysis on their urine analyzers, so lab leaders should assess their needs before purchasing a system.

In summary, urinalysis remains an informative laboratory test. It is important to understand what is being tested and what can interfere with the test, since certain medications and vitamins interfere with urinalysis testing. For example, during the winter months, more and more people are taking vitamin C in an effort to “starve a cold,” and we see ascorbic acid as an interference in bilirubin, glucose, blood, and nitrite testing. It is also important to understand the patient’s diet and exercise level, since they can impact results as well. Laboratorians should become very familiar with the manufacturer’s instructions for use to know what the limitations of the analyte are in order to ensure accurate reporting.