Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Urine test strips (also called urine dipsticks, reagent strips or urinalysis strips) are disposable plastic strips carrying chemical test pads that are dipped in a urine sample and read by color. Who uses them: clinic and laboratory staff running near-patient or centralized urinalysis, and the buyers and students who need to understand what the product is and how its manufacturer says it must be handled. The handling rules below come from a manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU) and a public procurement catalogue, and they are where products and clinics most often go wrong.
What urine test strips are
A urine test strip is a ready-to-use, disposable strip with several reagent pads. One widely used professional strip, the Siemens Healthineers Multistix PRO 10LS, is described in its package insert as “ready to use upon removal from the bottle” and as a disposable reagent strip for professional in vitro diagnostic use in near-patient (point-of-care) and centralized laboratory locations. Its stated purpose is to assist diagnosis in areas such as kidney function, urinary tract infections and carbohydrate metabolism, and it also reports acid-base balance and urine concentration.
How urine test strips are built and read
Each strip carries a row of test pads, one per parameter. Strips are supplied in a bottle with a desiccant, and the bottle label carries the color blocks used for reading. The same Siemens IFU says a strip can be read visually against those color blocks, or on CLINITEK analyzers, where a colored identification band on the strip tells the analyzer which strip type it is. The IFU states that the carton or bottle label shows which tests are included in the product in your hands, because tests vary by strip.
Types and panels
| Item | What it covers | Key detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multistix PRO 10LS (Siemens Healthineers) | Protein (high and low), creatinine, blood, leukocytes, nitrite, glucose, ketone (acetoacetic acid), pH, specific gravity | Read visually or on CLINITEK analyzers; check the bottle label for the tests on your product | Siemens IFU, Rev A 2017-07 |
| Generic “test strip, urine, 10 parameter” | Ten parameters | Supplied as a box of 100; specifications are generic and may vary among suppliers | UNFPA Global Supply, product 1002031 |
Searches for “urine dipstick” and “urinalysis strips” describe this same product class; the number and mix of pads is set by the specific strip, so always read the label of the product you hold.
Specifications that matter
| Specification | What the source states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Storage temperature | 15-30 C (59-86 F) for Multistix PRO 10LS; 2-30 C for the generic strip in the UNFPA catalogue, which also says do not freeze | Siemens IFU; UNFPA |
| Shelf life | 24 or 36 months for the generic strip, with the note that specifications may vary among suppliers | UNFPA |
| Specimen window | Test within two hours after voiding; otherwise refrigerate immediately and let the urine return to 15-30 C before testing | Siemens IFU |
| Packaging | Unused strips stay in the original bottle; the generic strip is listed with unbreakable, sealed primary packaging | Siemens IFU; UNFPA |
The two storage ranges differ, which is the point: the range is product-specific, so follow the IFU and bottle label of the strip you stock rather than a general figure.
How to choose
These criteria come from the IFU, not from a ranking of products.
- Match the tests on the bottle label to what the work needs; the Siemens IFU says to refer to the carton or bottle label to see which tests a product includes.
- Check regulatory status. The IFU says its tests are CLIA waived when read visually and when run on CLINITEK Status systems and CLINITEK 50 analyzers, and that a certificate of CLIA waiver is required to perform them in a waived setting. For the wider picture see CLIA-waived point-of-care testing and the dictionary entry CLIA-waived test.
- Decide visual or analyzer reading in advance, because the IFU ties the waived status to the stated reading methods.
- Check the expiration date before use and record the opening date on the bottle label, as the IFU instructs.
Clinics stocking strips as one item among many can use the urology clinic supply checklist; the broader device context is in point-of-care testing. Diagnostic supplies are listed under diagnostic, monitoring and imaging supplies.
Safe use and handling basics
From the Siemens IFU:
- Use freshly voided urine in a clean container, tested as soon as possible. First-morning urine is preferred but random samples are acceptable. Mix the sample well and do not centrifuge it. Preservatives are not recommended.
- Remove one strip and replace the cap. Do not touch the test pads.
- Dip all pads and remove the strip immediately, starting the timer if reading visually. Drag the edge of the strip on the container rim to remove excess urine.
- Read each pad at the time shown on the label, starting with the shortest time, holding the strip close to the color blocks in good light.
- Keep unused strips in the original bottle, at the stated temperature, out of direct sunlight, with the desiccant left in. The IFU says protection against exposure to light, heat and ambient moisture is mandatory.
Quality control
The IFU says to test negative and positive controls when opening a new bottle, and that water should not be used as a negative control. For CLIA-waived laboratories it lists QC with new lots, new shipments, each new bottle, and monthly for reagents stored over 30 days. Requirements for your own laboratory are covered in CLIA quality control requirements.
Common mistakes
- Using water as a negative control (the IFU says not to).
- Touching the test pads, or reading pads at the wrong time instead of the label time for each pad.
- Testing urine more than two hours after voiding without refrigerating it first.
- Storing strips outside the original bottle or removing the desiccant.
- Ignoring darkened or discolored pads. The IFU says discoloration or darkening may indicate deterioration; confirm the expiration date, check against known negative and positive controls, and retest with fresh product.
- Departing from the IFU. The IFU states that failure to follow it is off-label use, which results in the tests being categorized as high complexity.
FAQ
Are urine test strips the same as urine dipsticks?
Yes. “Urine dipstick”, “reagent strip” and “urinalysis strip” all name a disposable strip with chemical pads that is dipped in urine and read by color.
How many tests does one strip run?
It depends on the product. The Multistix PRO 10LS IFU lists protein (high and low), creatinine, blood, leukocytes, nitrite, glucose, ketone, pH and specific gravity, and says to check the label for the tests on the product you use. A generic 10-parameter strip is listed by UNFPA in boxes of 100.
Can strips be stored in another container?
The IFU says all unused strips must remain in the original bottle.
Do urine test strips need a CLIA waiver?
For the strip described in this page’s source, a certificate of CLIA waiver is required to perform the tests in a waived setting, and only when the IFU is followed.
Sources
- Siemens Healthineers, Multistix PRO 10LS Reagent Strips package insert, Rev A 2017-07: instructions for use (PDF). Read 2026-10-29.
- UNFPA Global Supply, Urine Test – Strips, product 1002031: product page. Read 2026-10-29.
