Urinalysis using a test strip

Urine production is the process of eliminating waste products and toxic substances to maintain fluid balance in the body (McLafferty et al, 2014). Urinalysis using a reagent test strip (Figure 1) is an inexpensive, simple and non-invasive procedure to assess the health status of an individual by measuring elements found in the urine such as electrolytes, hormones or waste products of metabolism (Yates, 2016).

Urinalysis is often carried out at routine medical examinations or by a midwife during pregnancy. It can be used in combination with other more invasive testing to detect conditions such as diabetes, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, urinary tract infection, dehydration and pre-eclampsia. It is also regularly used in pre-surgical preparation, or on acute or planned hospital admission. Urine is routinely tested on first contact to form a baseline for future assessment (Royal College of Nursing (RCN), 2016a). Frequency thereafter will depend on the rationale for testing and the person's general health status.