Small notes when using a urine analyzer

Urine testing is the most commonly used type of test with many advantages such as easy sample collection that does not hurt the patient, rapid testing, accurate results, and many meanings in urine. diagnose. There are many types of tests performed on urine samples such as:
Physical properties test: Quantity, color, density and pH.
Urine biochemical test: qualitative or quantitative analysis of proteins, sugars, fats, bile substances, electrolytes, enzymes, hormones, vitamins and some other substances.
Cell test: look for the presence of cells such as white blood cells, red blood cells, epithelial cells ...
Bacterial test: Determining the presence of bacteria in urine.
Parasite test: Determines the presence of certain types of parasites that appear in urine.
Currently, urine testing machines are very popular, almost all units with laboratories do urine testing by machines. From small clinics to large hospitals, urine tests can be done anywhere. There are many brands on the market, each with many different models, but generally today urine testers usually make 10 or 11 parameters, including physical, biological chemical and cellular. The current 10 common parameters include: density, pH, glucose, protein, red blood cells, white blood cells, nitrites, cetonic, bilirubin, urobilin. In addition, the device has an additional parameter of Vitamin C. The urine testing machine works based on the dry biochemical method. Using a test strip with small cells impregnated with chemicals, each urine cell will work with a certain substance to be studied in the urine to create a certain color. The color density of the resulting color will correspond to the concentration of more or less substances. When properly illuminated, the colored cells absorb part of the light and some will bounce back. The intensity of the reflected light will be proportional to the density of the reagent cells or the concentration of substances in the urine. The reflected light is converted into an electrical signal, which is amplified, calculated and displayed.
Performing these tests on a urine machine is extremely simple. You only need to dip the test strip in urine, put on the machine, wait for more than 1 minute will have results. However, to make sure the urine test results are always accurate contributing to the diagnosis of clinicians, you need to note the following points:

1. Samples must be taken correctly.
It is very easy to take a urine sample, but it may be because it is easy that you do not instruct the patient to get the results right. With a urine sample used for testing on this machine, there are a number of requirements such as: Urine is best taken early in the morning when hungry. Collect urine in the middle of the stream (urinate a little before, then collect urine into the canister). Use disposable plastic test tubes. Urine samples after taking should be tested immediately, no later than 1 hour after taking.

2. The machine must be calibrated regularly.
Like biochemical systems, urine machines also need regular calibration. Calibration of urine machine is quite simple. You use the bar provided by the supplier of the test bar, put on the machine (without having to dip in any solution), select the calibration mode (Calibration), the machine will run and report the results. You compare results with standard results. If it is good, if not, you call the engineer of the company because maybe your machine is in need of maintenance.

3. Quality of test bars.
Currently on the market there are many companies offering these urine test strips. Prices are varied and therefore the quality is also very different. You should use test bars of reputable big brands, but the price is high, but the results are always stable and you do not need to test to run again. As for cheap tests, many results are very wrong and you have to spend testing to do so cheap but expensive. Also you must not use the test when the expiry date. Another note is that the test must always be kept dry. After opening the cover to get the test done, you must close the lid immediately. Otherwise the test will be dehumidified in the external environment causing errors.

4. Always clean the machine, tray to test bar clean.
A urine sample is tested by dipping a strip into the urine and then placing it on a test tray tray and putting it into the reader. Therefore, the tray containing the test strip always contains urine soaked in from the test strip that may lead to erroneous results. You should pat the back of the test strip dry before placing it on the test tray. Also, after each sample run, wipe the test tray with a soft paper to remove any urine from the previous sample. Another thing to note is that the tray for the test bar to be in place, just a little deviation will result in a lot of difference.

5. Always ensure the time of incubation of urine with the test strip.
After dipping urine into the test strip, it takes a certain amount of time for the substances to react with each other. This interval may vary from 60 to 90 seconds depending on the device (or each type of test bar). On the machines, there is a standard running cycle (enough tempering time) and a fast running program (no tempering time). You must pay close attention here, the fast-running program only applies when you have incubated the test strip and urine before. Many people dip the test strip into the urine, put on the machine and immediately select the fast run mode. This is completely wrong because there is not enough time to react. In contrast, some of you incubate longer than the prescribed time due to slow operation ... will also make false results. According to my recommendation, you keep running according to the standard mode to ensure the incubation time.

6. Check the results with each test.

You must control the results of each urine sample tightly controlled. There are many reasons for inaccurate results such as uncertain incubation time, skewed test bar, broken test bar ... so you have to control the output. In my opinion you should compare the color with the naked eye on the test bar with the standard color scale on the test box to collate. In addition, in some doubtful results, you can run again with another test or manually test for example to check protein protein urine or not, you should suck about 1ml of urine another test tube, add 4 drops of 30% tricloacetic acid, observe before the black background, if there is a white precipitate with protein or to check for sugar in the urine, take 2.5 ml of benedict solution after boiling. then add 0.5ml of urine, boil again, if precipitated as urinary glucose. In short, you need to control the results each time the machine runs out, if there is no relevance in the clinical diagnosis or you suspect you need to check again.