The ID bands have a hydrophobic (water repellent) coating that helps to prevent build-up of liquid. Touching this band may disrupt the coating and allow more fluid to collect on the band. This can cause a strip identification error. As stated in the product insert, test pads, including ID bands, should not be touched. Healthcommunities.com, Inc. http://www.visionchannel.net/colorvision; Information retrieved on March 7, 2003. No. The leukocyte pad is used to determine if the strip has been degraded from exposure to humidity. Only those Siemens strips with the leukocyte pad can detect humidity over-exposure. Combining the results of leukocyte (WBC) and nitrite is a better predictor of the presence or absence of urinary tract infection, than any one test parameter alone. 3 Eliminates the need to manually select strip type if using different urinalysis strips – saves time and reduces possible errors.

Ketones — at 40 seconds look at the ketone square—if ketones are present then they may have changed to a dark purple. Ketones can be present in diabetes but the usual cause for them is hunger. If you’ve found ketones in your urine, go and have something to eat which includes some carbohydrate and test again after 30 minutes to 1 hour. If ketones are still present then you need to see your GP. One cause of ketones is a low carbohydrate diet used in some slimming regimes. Having ketones is not harmful (Eskimos are in a state of permanent ketosis). Specific gravity tells you how concentrated the urine is and simply reflects how much or little you are drinking. In chronic renal failure, the kidney cannot concentrate urine and it is always weak with a low specific gravity (dark green). pH — this tells you how acid or alkali the urine is. It can be used as a guide to hyperventilation as it goes greeny blue (alkali) in people who hyperventilate. Can also be used with Siemens Clinitek Status and Clinitek Status+ Analysers for automatic analysis of results. Studies have shown that when urinalysis is performed with an instrument, sensitivity is increased and positives are correctly identified and reported. 4

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Combining the results of leukocyte (WBC) and nitrite is a better predictor of the presence or absence of urinary tract infection, than any one test parameter alone. 2 Nitrites and leucocytes — these two tests together may suggest infection of the urinary tract. If one or other are positive then you must see your GP so that s/he can send a sample of urine off for microscopy and culture to see which bug is there and to which antibiotic it is sensitive. If you have symptoms such as fever, pain on peeing, urgency, constant desire to pee, feeling ill etc then an antibiotic should be started at once on a “best guess” basis (usually trimethoprim). If there are no symptoms then it is reasonable just to monitor the situation for a while. Urine testing with multistix is an extremely useful test to do on children who have a high temperature because urine infections are often overlooked as a possible cause of fever. Siemens is committed to continuous innovation in urinalysis and providing our customers with solutions for improved workflow and improved clinical information at the point of care. The test strips can be used on Siemens’ CLINITEK Status ® and CLINITEK Advantus ® analyzers without impacting performance.

Glucose — at 30 seconds look at the colour of the glucose square. If there is any glucose (or sugar) present it will change colour, possibly to a dark brown. Any amount of glucose in the urine needs further investigation by your GP – you may be diabetic. Multistix Reagent strips can be used to test urine for glucose, ketones, specific gravity, blood, pH, protein, nitrites and leucocytes. All these are clues to disease of the kidneys, urinary tract and other problems such as diabetes. Urine testing should always be undertaken in any case where the diagnosis is in doubt. Enables user compliance with IVDD regulations by reporting results only from urinalysis strips that have been validated for use on the CLINITEK Status analyzers.

Siemens Multistix 8SG, Tube of 100

A multicenter study was conducted to identify patients with potential UTIs. There were 1,887 urine specimens tested comparing the leukocyte and nitrite results of Multistix 10 SG urinalysis strips to urine culture. 1 Applying a drop of control to the top of a test pad does not ensure optimum performance for each reagent. Do not drop control solution onto the ID band. To ensure optimum performance refer to “Proper dipping techniques for Siemens urinalysis test strips” above. Siemens’ internal studies show that the ID band can be dipped without errors or strip misidentification issues if proper technique is used. Follow the Dip It Right! instructions listed above. Provides printed sample interference notes when common sample interferences are detected, providing healthcare professionals additional clinical information to aid in patient management.**

Nitrites — if nitrites are present then a pink colour shows. Nitrites are created when bacteria in the urine convert urea to nitrite – nitrites usually mean infection – see below Dropper style controls should only be used if the control is transferred to an appropriate test tube before use. Minimizes false-positive results with automatic notification if test strip has been degraded from humidity, preventing potentially erroneous patient results from being reported.* Yes, if too much liquid is left on the ID band area. Dip It Right! Using the proper dipping technique greatly reduces the likelihood of these errors. Leucocytes — if these are present in large amounts as for example in infection, then there is a colour change to purple.A multicenter study was conducted to identify patients with potential UTIs. There were 1,887 urine specimens tested comparing the leukocyte and nitrite results of Multistix urinalysis strips to urine culture. Studies have shown that when urinalysis is performed with an instrument, sensitivity is increased and positives are correctly identified and reported. 5

Robertson AW, Duff P. The nitrite and leukocyte estarase tests for the evaluation of asymptomatic bacteriuria in obstetrics. Obstet. Gynnecol 1988;71:878-81.Protein — if protein is present then the colour changes to a bottle-green. Protein is a sign of disease of the renal tract — almost any kidney disease can present with protein in the urine.