Urinalysis by means of Test Strips
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Test strip storage

Test strips are packed in an aluminum or plastic box. Each box is provided with a moisture absorbing desiccant (inorganic silicate gel or silica gel). With appropriate storage (+4 °C to 30 °C) and usage (the box must be closed immediately upon taking a strip out of it), the test strips remain stable until the expiry date specified on the pack.


Working procedure
Test strips are kept at room temperature in original aluminum boxes. If the box with test strips has been stored in a refrigerator, the strip must be accommodated to room temperature.
The box with the strips must be kept closed all the time.
Urine tests performed with test strips are very simple.
Determination is performed in a freshly obtained, uncentrifuged urine specimen.

• Test strip immersion in urine
The test strip is briefly (maximally 1 second) immersed in the urine so as to wet all test areas.

• Removal of excess urine
Upon taking the test strip out of the urine, excess urine can be removed by wiping the strip edge along the container brim.
However, it is recommended to lean the lower side of the strip against a filter paper or cell-tissue.

• Reading
On visual (manual) reading, time has to be measured because the duration of a particular reaction differs between test strips of different manufacturers. Reading is performed within 30 and 120 seconds (depending on test strip type and manufacturer).
After the time period strictly defined by the manufacturer, the color produced by the reaction is compared with the color of the respective area on the reading scale.
Color changes appearing only along the margins of test areas, or developing after more than 2 minutes have no diagnostic value.
Automated test strip readers read the result within the strictly defined time set according to the manufacturer's instructions.
It is recommended to use automated test strip readers. If it is not possible, a stop-watch should be used on manual reading.

• If some drugs are suspected to influence positive test results, the test should be repeated upon therapy completion.

• Urine assay should be performed within 4 hours.
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