Urine Dipstick Screening       MCL Procedure for Waived Applications
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Patient Specimen Collection Instructions:

For a standard urine collection, begin to urinate as usual and then put the cup into the stream to catch some of the urine in the paper cup. It doesn't take too much---about one-fourth of a cup will fill the tube--so you can finish your business in the toilet. Bring your sample back to the unit for testing.

Testing:

Test the sample in the fresh state.

• Mix: Give the sample a healthy swirl for several seconds or mix the container by inversion several times before testing.
• Dip and drain: Dip the stick completely but briefly and remove the strip by dragging the back of the strip across the mouth of the container. This technique will drain off the excess urine. You can blot the strip by pressing the side to a paper towel. Do not blot the strip on the pads.
• Time: In general, all pads may be read at 60 seconds-except for urobilinogen (10-30) seconds and leukocytes (60-120 seconds). The optimum times are given below:

- pH may be read immediately

- glucose and ketone - wait 60 seconds after dipping

- urobilinogen - read 10-30 seconds after dipping

- protein - read 30-60 seconds after dipping

- leukocytes - 60-120 seconds

• Color interpretation: Hold the strip against the guide on the side of the container to compare the color and interpret the finding.
• Close the container - tightly: The strips are stable only if stored properly.
• Record the results: Write your name, the date and time and the findings on the patient record in EPIC.

Quality control:

• Maintain the proper storage conditions by keeping the reagents strips tightly covered and shielded from light. Always keep the strips in the original container with the dessicant package intact.
• Do not use strips that are expired or are in suspect conditions due to storage conditions.
• Follow the procedural instructions exactly. The strips are designed to test urine. Do not use the strips on other samples.
• The laboratory assesses the quality to the reagent strips on an ongoing basis. External quality control at the unit level is not necessary for this test.