Urinalysis Strips for the Medicine Chest

Just a few years ago, most urinalysis strips tested only 10 parameters.  Now, they test up to 14. Medical advances come so quickly that it's hard to keep up at times.

What are these 14 parameters that can be detected in the urine within 60 seconds?

Parameter	What can it tell your doctor?
Ascorbate	Levels above 2.8 mmol/L may interfere with accurate bilirubin and nitrite results, false negatives
Bilirubin	Elevated bilirubin suggests liver or gallbladder issues, impaired bile processing, liver disease
Calcium	Abnormal levels suggest kidney stones or renal dysfunction
Ketone	Body is burning fat instead of glucose for energy; diabetic ketoacidosis, ketosis
Leukocytes	Elevated levels of white blood cells suggest infection, urinary tract infection
Magnesium	Abnormal levels indicate kidney, liver, bone, or nutritional deficiencies; metabolism or kidney issues
Microalbumin	Elevated levels suggest early kidney damage and compromised filtration; often suggest diabetes and/or hypertension
Nitrite	Detects bacterial byproducts; may suggest a urinary tract infection
pH	Low pH may indicate acidosis or kidney stones; high pH suggests kidney issues, urinary tract infections, or dietary factors, irregular diet
Protein	Elevated levels may indicate impaired kidney filtration function, kidney issues
Specific gravity	Assesses urine concentration; abnormal results suggest dehydration or renal impairment; urinary tract infection, liver issues
Uric acid	Indicates the body’s breakdown of purines; abnormal levels associated with kidney function abnormalities, gout or kidney issues
Urobilinogen	Reflects liver function; elevated levels signal excessive bilirubin production or liver dysfunction, liver issues
Zinc	Elevated levels suggest toxicity; low levels indicate deficiency or malabsorption; liver issues

 

How to use

Collect a mid-stream urine sample, dip the strip in the urine for a few seconds, and lay it flat.  Then compare the results with the provided color chart within the recommended time frame.

Strip shelf life

The unopened strips have a shelf life of two years.  The strips in the opened and resealed packets have a shelf life of 60 days after opening.  Make sure to buy a container that packages the strips into smaller pouches.

Storage

As with just about everything, store the strips in a cool, dry, dark location.

Notably, these strips do not test for glucose in the urine. 

The strips run about 27 cents each, purchased in bottles of around 100.  There’s slight variation among the manufacturers. 

Is this an item to add to the family medicine chest?  Obviously, it’s not a top item.  Make sure you have the bandages, medications, and disinfectants covered first. 

These strips will not likely be used in families that are healthy and that have developed a generous supply of nutritious storage foods that they have the skills and fuel to prepare, and who also practice good hygiene and sanitation.  Then again, if we have prepared well, we aren’t likely to use most of our medical supplies.  We’ll hopefully only need a few of them.  Of course, the trick lies in knowing just which ones we need. 

If you’re already well-stocked and looking to become more thoroughly prepared, then absolutely this is a great addition.  And particularly if you have a large group and/or can share the cost since they need to be replaced every two years. 

Links to related posts:

DIY Lab Tests to Add to the Home Medical Kit