Professional urine reagent test strips for the rapid determination of Ketones (URS-K), Glucose, Protein and pH (URI-3) plus Leukocytes, Nitrites, Ketones, Bilirubin, Blood, Urobilinogen, and Specific Gravity (URI-10) levels in urine. These are the diagnostic reagent strips used by physicians, clinics and hospitals to initially screen for suspected and/or existing health conditions. Simple to use, urine diagnostic reagent strips can provide early indications of developing health problems and identify potential abnormal functions requiring more extensive testing. Additionally, routine use is frequently recommended by physicians for monitoring certain existing and chronic health conditions.

Principle

These urinalysis test strips, URS-K (Ketones) URS-3 (Glucose, Protein, pH) and URS-10 (Glucose, Protein pH, Leukocytes, Nitrites, Ketones, Bilirubin, Blood, Urobilinogen, and Specific Gravity) are simple, easy to use reagent strips for the detection of key diagnostic chemical markers in human urine. They are the same test strips used routinely by doctors, laboratories and healthcare professionals in preliminary diagnosis of, and initial screening for potential health problems. URS-Strips are plastic strips to which chemically specific reagent pads are affixed. The reagent pads react with the sample urine to provide a standardized visible color reaction within 30 seconds to one minute depending on the specific panel screen. The color is then visually compared to the included color chart to determine the level of each chemical factor. Test results may provide useful information regarding carbohydrate (sugar) metabolism (diabetes), kidney function, acid-base balance, bacteriuria, occult blood , high leukocytes (infection) and other conditions of overall health. The strips are ready to use upon removal from the vial and the entire reagent strip is disposable. URS-K, 3 & 10 reagent test strips are packed 100 tests to a vial with approximately one (1) year shelf life. Each vial comes with a complete abstract on the chemical and biological properties of the test including a color chart for rapid visual diagnosis.

Significance of Ketones in diet programs (urs-K, Urs-10)

Is your body burning fat cells? The presence of elevated levels of ketones in human urine is a primary indicator that the body is in ketosis. Ketosis simply means that the body's stored fat cells are being utilized as a primary fuel source to produce energy. The by products of fat metabolism are ketones. Ketones are not stored by the body and are eliminated as detectable waste products in urine. Therefore, monitoring the level of ketones is presumptive of, and directly correlated to the metabolizing, or burning of stored fat cells to produce energy. Likewise the conclusion can be drawn that the higher the concentration of ketones in urine, the higher is the amount of fat cells metabolized by the body. Ketone test strips are used routinely to help measure the progress of dieters especially those maintaining a low carbohydrate diet. Additionally, ketones are monitored in individuals with Type 1 diabetes. In diabetics, high ketone levels indicate ketoacidosis, a complication of inadequate insulin levels that can lead to diabetic coma. In overall health considerations, high ketone levels are generally an indication of abnormal nutritional conditions, including starvation, fasting, anorexia, high protein or low carbohydrate diets.

SIGNIFICANCE OF DIAGNOSTIC REAGENT PANELS (URS-3, URS-10)

Depending on the test and specific reagent panel, abnormal levels of specific chemical compounds contained in urine can be easily and readily identified as potential risks factors to overall health and/or indicators of underlying health problems. The significance of each reagent panel is discussed in detail in the Urinalysis Technical Document.

Procedure and Use:

• Collect a fresh urine sample in a clean, dry container preferably glass. First morning samples contain the highest concentration of target markers.

• Remove one reagent strip from the bottle and immediately replace the container cap, minimizing the exposure of the remaining test strips to light and air.

• Completely immerse the reagent pads of the strip in the urine sample and then remove immediately to avoid dissolving out the reagent pads.

• While removing the reagent strip, run the edge of the strip against the rim of the specimen container to remove excess urine. Hold the strip in a horizontal position to prevent possible cross contamination of chemicals located in adjacent reagent pads.

• Compare the color change of reagent pads to the corresponding color chart on the bottle label. Read results according to the chart's time frame for each panel tested.

• Record the results of your readings for discussion and/or evaluation with your physician or healthcare provider and then discard the used reagent strip.

Reading the results:

Each vial of urinalysis reagent strips includes a color coded chart. The reactive color of each panel on the test strip is compared to the closest corresponding color on the result chart. The concentration level range for each chemical marker is indicated below each color block on the result chart. As with all tests dealing with color intensity or color matching, it is often recommended to obtain another person's interpretation of the test result. Shown to the left is the color result chart for the URS-10, ten parameter test strip. Each of the ten reactive reagent pads on the test strip are compared to the corresponding line of color blocks on the chart. The closest color match indicates the test result. Use of reagent strips are intended as an initial indication only of elevated chemical markers and not conclusive of a specific diagnosis. Further testing and consultation with a healthcare professional is necessary to confirm the presence of specific disease or health conditions.

EXPECTED VALUES (See also the Urinalysis Technical Document)

Expected values for the typical "normal" healthy population and the abnormal population are as follows:
Note: For a more complete discussion of expected results and potential causes of unexpected results see the Urinalysis Reagent Strip Technical Document.

• Glucose: Glucose should not be detected in normal urine. Small amounts of glucose may be excreted by the kidney. These amounts are usually below the sensitivity of this test but on occasion may produce a color between the negative and the 1/10 g/dL color blocks. Results of 1/10 g/dL (if consistent) or higher are considered to be significantly abnormal and professional advice should be obtained immediately.
• Protein: Protein is usually not detectable in normal urine. A color matching any block greater than "Trace" indicates significant proteinuria. For urine of high specific gravity, the test area may most closely match the "Trace" color block even though only normal concentration of protein is present. Clinical judgment and advice along with further tests would be required to properly evaluate the significance of consistent "Trace" readings.
• pH: Normal and abnormal urinary pH may range from 5 to 9. Readings are generally situation specific and should be discussed with your healthcare professional. Generally, certain conditions manifest in low or high consistent pH readings and should be professionally evaluated. First morning urine from healthy individuals will usually range from 5 to 6.
• Additional Panels (URI-10): Expected results for Leucocytes, Nitrites, Ketone, Bilirubin, Blood, Urobilinogen and Specific Gravity (URS-Strip 10) including normal ranges are included in a complete instruction and use sheet. In most cases, for these additional test panels, you want to obtain a normal, or negative result meaning that the reagent panel does not change color*. A color change in one or more of the reagent panels normally indicates an unexpected result. For example, a significant color change in the leukocyte panel would indicate an elevated level of white blood cells indicating a possible infection. A color change, or abnormal reading in the blood panel could indicate undiagnosed internal bleeding.

* NOTE: For a more complete discussion of expected results and potential causes of unexpected results see the Urinalysis Technical Document.