Urinalysis (or dipstick analysis or UA) is where the urine of a patient is tested using urinalysis testing strips. It is performed for various reasons e.g. patients with urinary symptoms, abdominal pain and at times during routine checks such as in pregnancy.
This station demonstrates urinalysis using standard UK urine test strips, in which the results can be read as colour changes.
For this station you will need:
Start by washing your hands, put on your gloves and apron.
Check you have the correct patient’s details on the sample bottle (name and DOB).
Check that the urine sample has been collected within the last 4 hours.
Comment on the colour and clarity of the sample. Upon removing the cap also comment if there is any odour.
Move onto the urine dipsticks.
Ensure they are in date.
Remove the cap and remove a strip without touching any of the test areas.
Replace the cap.
Immerse the strip fully in the urine, ensuring all the test areas are covered. Tap off any residual urine against the side of the urine sample bottle.
Hold the strip horizontally to prevent any of the testing area’s running into each other, and against the dipstick analysis on the side of the dipstick tub.
Read the strip after the correct amount of time, for example: 30 seconds for glucose, 60 seconds for protein.
Discard the strip, your gloves and apron in the clinical waste bin. Wash your hands.
Record/report any findings.
An extension to this station could be what “to do next”. Should there be any positive results you may want to send the sample for analysis, if you do send the sample for analysis then note whether it is a midstream specimen of urine (MSU) or catheter specimens of urine (CSU). You may want also want to arrange further tests, for example: if positive for glucose consider further investigations for diabetes.
