What is a Rapid Urine Test? How To Read Your Results?

How do you interpret rapid urine test results, and what does a rapid urine test show? Rapid urine tests, also known as dipstick tests, are used by doctors to determine a patient’s overall state quickly, particularly in cases when obtaining a full, detailed panel is either impossible or unnecessary. They can also be performed at home via at-home urine test kits. Regardless, this method of testing uses a reference color chart to test urine content for the presence of various chemicals that could signify infection or other underlying conditions. Stick around for the whole article to find out more about rapid urine tests.

What Is a Rapid Urine Test? How Does It Work?

A rapid urine test, sometimes called a dipstick test or strip test, is the quickest way to test a patient’s urine to obtain a basic overview of their health. 

One of its greatest advantages lies in their versatility – doctors can perform the test with a urine sample directly in their office without sending it for lab testing, but keen and inquisitive patients worried about their health may also perform the test by themselves, using an at-home test kit.

Rapid urine test results clue the doctor – or the self-testing patient – in on a few factors. Most designs have a dipstick lined with a number of tiny squares, coated with chemicals that react against other substances found in the urine. Usually, these include leukocytes (white blood cells), nitrites, protein in urine, glucose in urine, urine specific gravity and others.

What Does a Rapid Urine Test Show?

Below, you’ll find a comprehensive list of what most rapid urine tests show:

• Urine color: Dipstick kits come with a urine color chart that informs you what each color could mean in terms of potential underlying causes.

• Urine pH: Any abnormalities in urine pH levels can easily be detected by a dipstick test.

• Protein content: Sporadically seeing excess protein in urine could be nothing, but persistent proteinuria is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease and could eventually lead to kidney failure.

• Glucose content: Glycosuria often signifies the kidneys’ inability to sufficiently absorb glucose. It can be caused by various conditions, including diabetes.

• Urine specific gravity: This parameter serves as an overall indicator of kidney function.

• Blood content: Any blood in the urine could mean kidney stones or other potentially dangerous conditions.

• Illicit substances (drugs): Another parameter that rapid urine tests show are illegal substances, drugs, and their metabolites.

• Bilirubin & Urobilinogen: When heightened levels of either of these chemicals are detected in the urine, it could signal impaired liver function.

How Long Does a Rapid Urine Test Take?

As the name suggests, rapid urine tests take very little time from collection to obtaining results. However, the speed shouldn’t automatically bring recklessness with it – knowing how to take a urine sample correctly is crucial in order to obtain accurate results.

Regardless, collecting the urine sample itself usually takes just a few minutes. Afterward, to perform a rapid dipstick test, follow the instructions carefully. The amount of time the dipstick needs to spend submerged in the urine may differ between manufacturers, though it typically doesn’t last longer than 2 minutes.

Finally, after removing the stick, chemical reactions on the dipstick begin to take place. The results should be ready to read in another 1 to 2 minutes. 

How Do I Read My Rapid Urine Test Results?

Reading rapid urine test results will depend on the specifics of the test itself. The general advice here is to always follow the instructions provided in the test kit to the best of your ability. That way, you ensure consistent and accurate results.

Below, you will find some of the parameters used in most dipstick tests and how to understand the results:

• Nitrites & Leukocytes: A positive nitrite reading suggests bacterial presence, possibly as a result of an ongoing urinary tract infection.
• Ketones: While ketones present in urine could be associated with dietary habits or medications, if these explanations don’t apply, you could be in the early stages of diabetic ketoacidosis or other metabolic conditions.
• Color: Dark-colored urine usually signals dehydration, but when other irregularities are present, it could mean that your kidney function is impaired. Blood in the urine, however, is always cause for concern, so don’t hesitate to contact your doctor if self-testing.
• Glucose: Abnormal levels of glucose could indicate diabetes and high blood sugar.
• Urine pH: Irregular urine pH (either too alkaline or too acidic) could point to a number of issues.

After obtaining your reading, if any questions or concerns arise, consider scheduling a doctor’s appointment. Your healthcare provider will be better able to understand what the findings mean, and they may schedule a full urinalysis in lab conditions to determine the best course of action based on complete results.

The Takeaway

Rapid urine tests serve an important role in the medical world – their wide range of uses and, most of all, their ability to quickly screen for serious issues make them indispensable. Understanding how to utilize them to their full benefit can help identify serious conditions early, simplifying their treatment.

You may also read: How to Do A Home Test for Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)? A Step-By-Step Guide