Is a negative result for protein on a urine dipstick insignificant?
Urine protein dipsticks are semi-quantitative and are influenced by urine pH, volume, concentration and color. While it is very easy to perform, the urine dipstick is neither a sensitive nor specific indicator of urinary protein loss. The lower limit of detection for urine protein on a dipstick is 30 mg/dL. The IDEXX Urine P:C Ratio has a lower limit for urine protein of 5 mg/dL, and is highly specific for dog and cat proteinuria. Furthermore, the IDEXX Urine P:C Ratio corrects for variations in urine concentration and volume. You should perform a Urine P:C Ratio on all suspect renal disease patients regardless of a negative urine protein dipstick result.
