Urinalysis Reagent Test Strips Are A Fast And Accurate Solution

By Stacey Burt


Even though many people assume that they are another product of the digital age, the small ribbons or flat sticks made of special plastics and paper that are used medically to measure changes in body chemistry are actually more than a century old. Doctors were looking for better alternatives to existing but cumbersome tests as early as the 1880s. The ancestors of current urinalysis reagent test strips became available in 1883, sparking a revolution that has not yet ended.

Over one hundred years later, they are integral in assessing abnormal kidney output. Reagents are especially helpful for people suffering from diabetes mellitus, which has become epidemic worldwide due to unhealthy trends in physical activity and diet. The presence of disease indicators in the blood and liver can revealed by them, as well as rapid detection of chemical markers common to urinary tract infections.

They are manufactured without using test-altering glues to bind individual pads and layers together. They avoid results caused by heavy exercise, which can produce trace amounts of blood in the urine, or the presence of high levels of ascorbic acid, associated with Vitamin C. Special controls eliminate false readings, and additional non-reactive substances also keep information accurate.

Each pad is designed to identify a specific chemical by changing to a different color after exposure. They can determine if blood is present, and accurately measure pH balance. They are able to detect leukocytes, glucose, ketones, nitrites, and other products of metabolism. Although these can be also measured using other methods, strips are preferred by laboratory workers, doctors, and especially patients.

They produce highly accurate results within one minute, in the form of specific color displays. Strips are designed for use upside down in order to prevent hand contact, a feature especially useful for technicians. Specific colors representing individual chemicals can be easily compared to the fade-resistant tones printed on the packaging vials. Color development is uniform and even.

This method is not only specific, simple to interpret, and easy to use, but is also cost-effective. The main purpose of these devices is not to specifically diagnose a particular disease, but rather to accurately detect metabolic indicators common to several ailments. Any positive reading must be followed by more specific examinations. When individual self-monitoring is necessary, patients appreciate their ease of use and ready availability.

Patients at high risk for diabetes complications can track their own levels of glucose and ketones, both of which indicate internal changes. People currently attempting to avoid kidney damage resulting from hypertension use them to monitor daily progress. Common, recurring urinary tract infections can be detected without a trip to the doctor, and self-testing is becoming an increasingly popular choice.

Although test kits are sold in most pharmacies, there is the potential danger that specific results can be misinterpreted by patients, causing some to assume they have a condition or diseases that is not actually present, and sometimes leading to unnecessary emotional stress. If a test produces questionable results, the next step is to see a physician who will be able to present a more complete diagnosis.




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