title: Eliminating unnecessary urine microscopy. Results and performance characteristics of an algorithm based on chemical reagent strip testing.
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 0.51 to 0.85; 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wenz
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lampasso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014556:Urine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D011934:Reagent Strips