To ensure an accurate reading, it’s essential to keep the urine from coming into contact with contaminants from the environment. For a home test, you can also position the strip directly under the stream, the way you would with a traditional pregnancy test. [3] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Swirl or shake the container lightly to mix the urine prior to testing. [4] X Research source
Most urine test strips are comprised of 5 or 7 separate squares. Strips with 5 squares are used to test for blood, glucose, protein, ketones and pH level. Strips with 7 squares also include bilirubin and urobilinogen. [6] X Research source
Let the urine drip off the side of the strip, not down its length. Never shake the dipstick or blot it with another object.
Mingling the urine from different squares can easily throw off the results of the test. Wash your hands after collecting and testing the urine sample.
Trying to track the time in your head is too imprecise. Set a timer or keep a close eye on the second hand of your watch so you’ll know exactly when the test is complete.
The color chart will most often be displayed somewhere on the packaging itself, though it may also be included as a separate sheet.
Take a few moments to read the instructions specific to the brand of test strips you’re working with to verify that you’re examining the squares in the correct order. Any color changes that take place after the initial two minutes should be disregarded, as the longer the urine remains exposed, the more likely it is to produce false positives.
You’ll always want to take a look at the pH, specific gravity (“SG”), and glucose levels (“GLU”) of a urine sample, regardless of what you’re screening for. The leukocyte and ketone ranges can point to potentially serious conditions like bacterial infections or diabetes. [13] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Always refrigerate a sample if it’s going to be more than 2 hours before you can get around to testing it. [15] X Research source Discard samples that are more than a couple hours old if they’ve been exposed to air or left to sit at room temperature. If necessary, you can wait and take a new sample at a later time.
For best results, make sure you’re satisfactorily hydrated before you collect your sample. Orange, brown, or reddish urine may be a sign of blood in the urinary tract. Similarly, greenish-blue urine can be caused by a UTI or a reaction to prescription medication. [17] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
If you need to be able to detect potentially serious health complications, another type of test (such as a detailed blood screening) may be necessary.
