Eliminating Unnecessary Urine Microscopy: Results and Performance Characteristics of an Algorithm Based on Chemical Reagent Strip Testing
- 1 July 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in American Journal of Clinical Pathology
- Vol. 92 (1) , 78-81
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/92.1.78
Abstract
The ability of a urinalysis reagent strip to predict the presence of formed elements in the sediment was evaluated. The sensitivity of individual biochemical analytes varies from 0.S1 to 0.8S; however, the combined sensitivity of positive reactions for either protein, nitrite, leukocyte esterase, and/or hemoglobin is 0.95. Leukocyte esterase activity becomes detectable at a concentration of 15 white blood cells per high-power field (WBCs/HPF). Proteinuria is nonspecifically related to pyuria and detects a minimum concentration of 6 WBCs/HPF, and the hemoglobin reaction detects 6 red blood cells/HPF. Most false negative reactions are associated with bacteriuria. A positive chemical reagent strip test can be safely and effectively used as a prerequisite for routine urine microscopic examination.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Efficacy of the routine admission urinalysisThe American Journal of Medicine, 1987
- Admissions Screening: Clinical BenefitsAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1975
- LII. An essay towards solving a problem in the doctrine of chances. By the late Rev. Mr. Bayes, F. R. S. communicated by Mr. Price, in a letter to John Canton, A. M. F. R. SPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 1763