A<unk>  or dipstick is a basic diagnostic tool used to determine pathological changes in a patient's urine in standard urinalysis. +<unk>  Leukocytes Nitrite Urobilinogen Protein pH Haemoglobin Specific gravity Ketone Bilirubin Glucose A standard<unk>  may comprise up to 10 different chemical pads or reagents which react (change color) when immersed in, and then removed from, a urine sample. The test can often be read in as little as 60 to 120 seconds after dipping, although certain tests require longer. Routine testing of the urine with multiparameter<unk> s is the first step in the diagnosis of a wide range of diseases. The analysis includes testing for the presence of proteins, glucose, ketones, haemoglobin, bilirubin, urobilinogen, acetone, nitrite and leucocytes as well as testing of pH and specific gravity or to test for infection by different pathogens. The test<unk> s consist of a ribbon made of plastic or paper of about 5 millimetre wide, plastic<unk> s have pads impregnated with chemicals that react with the compounds present in urine producing a characteristic colour. For the paper<unk> s the reactants are absorbed directly onto the paper. Paper<unk> s are often specific to a single reaction (e.g. pH measurement), while the<unk> s with pads allow several determinations simultaneously. There are<unk> s which serve different purposes, such as qualitative<unk> s that only determine if the sample is positive or negative, or there are semi-quantitative ones that in addition to providing a positive or negative reaction also provide an estimation of a quantitative result, in the latter the colour reactions are approximately proportional to the concentration of the substance being tested for in the sample. The reading of the results is carried out by comparing the pad colours with a colour scale provided by the manufacturer, no additional equipment is needed. This type of analysis is very common in the control and monitoring of diabetic patients. The time taken for the appearance of the test results on the<unk>  can vary from a few minutes after the test to 30 minutes after immersion of the<unk>  in the urine (depending on the brand of product being used). Semi-quantitative values are usually reported as: trace, 1+, 2+, 3+ and 4+; although tests can also be estimated as milligrams per decilitre. Automated readers of test<unk> s also provide results using units from the International System of Units.
Urine test strip
Urine collection device
Clinical urine tests
Urine cytology
Cytocentrifuge
Broth microdilution
Hematology analyzer
Rapid diagnostic test