Urinalysis Reagent Test Strips Provide Medical Information Quickly And Accurately

By Stacey Burt


Even though many people assume that they are another product of the digital age, the small ribbons or flat sticks made of special plastics and paper that are used medically to measure changes in body chemistry are actually more than a century old. Doctors were looking for better alternatives to existing but cumbersome tests as early as the 1880s. The ancestors of current urinalysis reagent test strips became available in 1883, sparking a revolution that has not yet ended.

Over one hundred years later, they are integral in assessing abnormal kidney output. Reagents are especially helpful for people suffering from diabetes mellitus, which has become epidemic worldwide due to unhealthy trends in physical activity and diet. The presence of disease indicators in the blood and liver can revealed by them, as well as rapid detection of chemical markers common to urinary tract infections.

Individual units contain layers and filter pads free from chemical glues that may alter results. While excess exercise or consumption of large amounts of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, just prior to a test may distort the readings, reagent ribbons are specifically designed to avoid that problem. Special materials help prevent false information, and other non-reactive protections help ensure accuracy.

Each pad is designed to identify a specific chemical by changing to a different color after exposure. They can determine if blood is present, and accurately measure pH balance. They are able to detect leukocytes, glucose, ketones, nitrites, and other products of metabolism. Although these can be also measured using other methods, strips are preferred by laboratory workers, doctors, and especially patients.

They produce highly accurate results within one minute, in the form of specific color displays. Strips are designed for use upside down in order to prevent hand contact, a feature especially useful for technicians. Specific colors representing individual chemicals can be easily compared to the fade-resistant tones printed on the packaging vials. Color development is uniform and even.

This method is not only specific, simple to interpret, and easy to use, but is also cost-effective. The main purpose of these devices is not to specifically diagnose a particular disease, but rather to accurately detect metabolic indicators common to several ailments. Any positive reading must be followed by more specific examinations. When individual self-monitoring is necessary, patients appreciate their ease of use and ready availability.

Under the direction of a doctor, high-risk patients with diabetes can self-monitor levels of ketones and glucose, both indicators of metabolic changes. Those who suffer from hypertension and possible kidney damage use reagents to check daily function. Recurring urinary tract infections can also be self-detected early, and preventive use has become a widespread phenomenon.

Although test kits are sold in most pharmacies, there is the potential danger that specific results can be misinterpreted by patients, causing some to assume they have a condition or diseases that is not actually present, and sometimes leading to unnecessary emotional stress. If a test produces questionable results, the next step is to see a physician who will be able to present a more complete diagnosis.




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