Our bodily fluids are an interesting thing, and there’s a lot of chemistry behind them. We often get people trying to test their urine, sweat, tears, etc with our pH test strips, which won’t always work because of the chemistry behind them. However, we do have a Urine Analysis Test Strip, which is specifically made to test urine in educational settings. (Note: This is not for medical use.)

Urine Test Strips, urine analysis test stripsSo, what components might you test for in urine? Well, our test strips detect four parameters: Ketones, Glucose, Protein, and pH. Measuring these components is often times a convenient way for medical professionals to monitor bodily processes. Other test parameters might include calcium levels, chloride ions, bilirubin, urobilinogen and urobilin. These parameters cannot be detected using our test strips, thus other methods must be used.

Let’s take a look at the parameters contained in our Urine Analysis Test Strip, and what each of them means for you.

Ketones

Ketones accumulate when the body needs to break down fats and fatty acids for energy. This occurs when the body doesn’t have enough sugar or carbohydrates. Thus, the ketone test is typically used for people with diabetes. A normal result is negative.

However, the test can also be used for people experiencing nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, illnesses such as pneumonia, heart attack or stroke, and pregnancy.

Abnormal results don’t always signify diabetes or another serious illness. It could be due to fasting, high protein or low carb diets, high fevers, etc.

Urine ketone bodies include acetoacetic acid, acetone and beta-hydroxybutyric acid, and they are produced exclusively in the liver.

Beta-hydroxybutyric acid is not detected by the Urine Analysis test strip, as it is not a ketone. Phenylketones in higher concentrations can interfere with the test strip by producing variable colors. Phthalein compounds can also interfere with the test strip by forming a red color.

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Glucose

Glucose is a type of sugar that your body requires and uses for energy. Measuring levels of glucose, or sugar, in the urine is another way to detect diabetes. High glucose levels often indicate diabetes. When medical professionals find abnormal levels of glucose in the urine, they will perform further testing to determine the underlying cause.

Apart from glucose, no other compound in urine is known to give a positive reaction. False positive reactions can be produced by a residual of oxidative compounds, for example, cleansing agents. Larger amounts of vitamin C (e.g. from tablets, antibiotics or fruit juices) can result in lower or false negative results.

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Protein

A small amount of protein in the urine is normally not an issue, however, larger levels can be caused by instances such as UTI, kidney infection, dehydration, etc.

The Protein test pad on the Urine Analysis test strip changes color in the presence of albumin. Other urine proteins are indicated with less sensitivity (e.g. globulins, mukoproteins, hemoglobin, Bence-Jones protein).

The protein test is not influenced by the urine physiological range of pH values, but in strongly alkaline urine (pH >8) or in urines with extremely high buffering capacity, the test can provide false positive results. In addition, the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (blood substitute), quinine or the disinfectants residue (quat-based) can lead to false positive results. The residues of disinfectants on the base of nonionic or anionic detergents can also cause false negative results.

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pH

The pH value of fresh urine from healthy individuals varies from a pH of 5 and 6 to a pH of 8, depending on the individual’s food intake. Prevalence of meat products in the diet lead to a more acidic pH level, while a lacto-vegetable diet causes more alkaline urine with a pH greater than 7. Any inorganic acidic or alkaline substances presented in urine can interfere with the test.

the chemistry of urine, urine analysis test strips, ketones, protein, pH, glucose