How Do You Use the UTI Self-Testing Strips?

Urinalysis test strips have two test areas, one testing for the presence of nitrite in the urine and the other for leucocytes. Using both nitrite and leucocyte is a better indicator then any one-test parameter alone. However, if either test area indicates a positive result please seek medical guidance. 

In the presence of most bacteria, naturally occurring nitrate in the urine is converted to nitrite. Therefore nitrite can be identified in the urine when bacteria are present. Bacteria in your urine is not normal. Bacteria are pathogens that may cause infection. Bacterial infection in the urinary tract can spread from you urethra to your bladder, ureters and kidneys and even to you blood. 

Leucocytes are white blood cells, which are released to fight infection and act as the body’s defence to break down foreign pathogens. When an infection is occurring in the urinary tract leucocytes will become abundant and detectable in urine. 

1. Open the box of Urinalysis UTI test strips 
2. Take out one aluminium packet/ pouch 
3. Open the packet/ pouch via tearing across the top. There is a grooved indent at top of packet on both sides, these grooved indicate where to tear from. A comparison colour chart is located on the aluminium pouch, so keep this close by to interpret the results. 
4. Take out the test strip, ensuring that you only hold the section without the test pads. Avoid touching the test pads as contaminants on your fingers will make the test pads less accurate. 
5. Hold test pad regions in your urine stream for about 2 seconds until both pads are completely wet with urine. 
6. Wait 1 minute for nitrite results to appear then compare test square to corresponding square on the colour chart located on the front of the aluminium pouch.
7. Wait 2 minutes for leucocyte results to appear and then compare the test square to the corresponding square on the colour chart. 
8. The colour chart changes indicated on the aluminium pouch will tell you if the results are positive or negative. Positive results mean a UTI is extremely likely. Please make an appointment to see your health practitioner as soon as possible. 

*If results appear positive for on parameter and not the other please seek further testing through your healthcare professional. False positive leucocyte results can occur with the use of the antibiotic cephalexin, tetracycline or gentamicin. High urinary protein and or glucose can decrease the reactivity of results, causing a false negative reaction. 

Pregnancy can reduce the accuracy of the results. If leucocyte results appear at all positive please consult your doctor. False positive results for nitrite can occur due to the contamination of the sample from the presence of bacteria from vaginal fluid (for women and recent sexually active males). 

Not all bacteria that cause a UTI, but most, convert nitrate to nitrite. A negative nitrite result with symptoms of a UTI may indicate an infection by one of these non-nitrate converting bacteria. Absence of dietary nitrite can calso cause false negative results. 

Small amounts of leucocytes can be present in urine as waste, this can present as a slightly positive leucocyte result. A strongly positive result most likely indicates an infection. The intensity of the colour is a rough guide to the amount of nitrite or leucocyte present and therefore the potential severity of the infection, this is indicated on the colour chart. 

If both test pads show a negative result, this means a UTI is unlikely. If any symptoms are present please seek medical advice, further testing may be required.