What should you know about a point-of-care urinalysis dipstick?

The strip changes colour when it detects markers such as blood, protein, glucose, ketones, or signs associated with inflammation. Timing, storage, contamination, medicines, hydration, and collection technique can affect the result. A positive marker is a clue, not a diagnosis.

Urinary symptoms may occur with a Urinary Tract Infection, while fever, flank pain, or feeling very unwell can raise concern for a Kidney Infection. Difficulty passing urine can have other explanations, including Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Use a clean container and a midstream sample if instructed. Tell the clinician about vaginal bleeding, discharge, pregnancy, medicines, and symptoms. Depending on the findings, they may recommend a laboratory Urine Test, examination, or observation rather than immediate treatment.

Do not start leftover antibiotics from a dipstick result. Antibiotic Treatment should follow a clinician’s assessment and, when appropriate, further testing.

Seek urgent care for fever with side or back pain, vomiting, confusion, severe weakness, visible blood with clots, or inability to pass urine. Symptoms during pregnancy, or in someone who is seriously unwell, need prompt clinical advice.

Ask which marker was abnormal, whether contamination could explain it, whether a laboratory sample is needed, and what symptoms should prompt reassessment.