What parameters can be tested with the IDEXX UA Strips?
• Why should leukocyte results be verified with microscopy? Studies in cats show that leukocyte esterase tests are nonspecific for the detection of pyuria, which means that most urine will be positive for leukocytes when none are present. In both dogs and cats, leukocyte esterase tests are insensitive for the detection of pyuria, which means that urine can be negative for leukocytes when leukocytes are present. back to the top • Why should urine dipsticks not be used to read specific gravity in veterinary samples? Urine specific gravity, as offered on other urine dipsticks, was designed for use in human medicine only. For veterinary samples, which have a significantly broader range of pH, the test is unreliable. As noted in Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology by Stockham and Scott (pg 304), “the reagent strip method is not recommended for estimation of urine solute concentration or specific gravity in urine of domestic mammals.” Furthermore, urine dipstick specific gravity pa
