COMPARISON OF REAGENT STRIP (DIPSTICK) AND MICROSCOPIC HEMATURIA IN UROLOGICAL OUT-PATIENTS

Dipstick (reagent strip) and microscopic urine analysis for haematuria was performed prospectively on 1000 consecutive urine samples taken from urological out-patients. Haematuria was present in 185 samples (1 8.5%) and absent in 687 (68.7%) using both tests; 98 samples (9.8%) had dipstick haematuria that was not confirmed by microscopy and 30 samples (3%) had microscopic haematuria that was missed on dipstick urine analysis. Dipstick urine analysis had a sensitivity of 86. 1 % and a specificity of 85%. This study confirms that reagent strip testing for haematuria has both false positive and false negative results and indicates that cytoscopy should be considered in all patients with suspected haematuria.