Abstract

FERNANDEZ, Diego Javier et al. Urine analysis: standardization and quality control. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2014, vol.48, n.2, pp.213-221. ISSN 0325-2957.

Urine analysis is one of the most ancient tests. It dates back from Hyppocrates times. Nowadays it is based on the use of reactive dipsticks and visual examinations in the microscope, with no quality control or adjusted standardization. In the present work, a standardized procedure, a positive control solution for dipsticks and a photographic collection of urine sediment were performed for teaching, training and control of the laboratory staff. Urisys 2400 (ROCHE) was used to analyze 200 samples randomly. The microscopic analysis was made by two experienced operators. A positive control solution of usual parameters of reactive dipsticks was performed. Data analysis was fulfilled by Kappa test p<0.05. The correlation between observers, using the proposed procedure, was always higher than in the routine process. The control solution was stable over the 4-month experience, yielding positive results in glucose, protein, hemoglobin, ketonuria and leukocyte, keeping pH and density values. It can be concluded that with standardization, the degree of correlation between observers was increased, for which reason this methodology is proposed to unify criteria; besides, elaboration of the control substance and a photographic collection makes it possible to control the procedure in a more economic fashion without leaving aside reliability.

Keywords : Quality control; Urine analysis; Dipsticks; Standardization.

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