What It Is
An automated dipstick urinalysis is often done as part of an overall urinalysis,
but it can also be done on its own, depending on the doctor's concerns.
Once a urine sample is collected, a nurse or technician will place a specially
treated chemical strip (dipstick) into it. Patches on the dipstick will change color
to indicate the presence of such things as white blood cells, protein, or glucose.
The dipstick is then placed into a machine that uses beams of light to analyze
the color changes. A machine reading can provide more detailed information than a
manual reading.
Why It's Done
The results of an automated dipstick urinalysis may point to diagnoses such as
a urinary tract infection (UTI) or
injury, kidney disease,
urinary tract trauma, or diabetes. If test results show there might be a problem,
other tests may be needed before a definite diagnosis can be made.
Preparation
No preparation other than cleansing the area around the urethra (urinary opening)
is required for the automated dipstick urinalysis.
The Procedure
Your child will be asked to urinate (pee) into a clean sample cup in the doctor's
office, lab, or hospital.
The skin surrounding the urinary opening has to be cleansed just before the urine
is collected. In this "clean-catch" method, you or your child cleanses the skin around
the urinary opening with a special towelette. The child then urinates, stops momentarily,
and then urinates again into the collection container. Catching the urine in "midstream"
is the goal. Be sure to wash your hands and your child's afterwards.
If your child isn't potty trained and can't urinate into a cup, a doctor or nurse
may need to insert a small soft plastic tube (catheter) into the bladder to obtain
the urine specimen.
The technician or nurse then will place a dipstick into the urine sample and put
the dipstick into an automated reader.
Collecting the urine should only take a few minutes. If your daughter is having
her period at the time of the test, let the doctor know.
