dipstick urinanalysis (detection of protein)
Last reviewed 01/2018
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