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Dipstick urinanalysis (detection of protein)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Chemical stix can detect urinary protein at a concentration above 200 mg/L.

The stix react specifically with albumin and do not detect Bence-Jones proteins (indicative of paraproteinuria e.g. mutiple myeloma).

The following should also be noted:

  • a positive test should be followed by measurement of 24 hour urinary protein excretion
  • the normal range for urinary protein is 60-200 mg per day although adolescent males, especially those who play regular contact sports, may excrete up to 300 mg per day
  • a false negative can be caused by urine which is very acid, or which is very dilute
  • a false positive can be caused by haematuria
  • 40% of urinary protein is Tamm-Horsfall protein

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