The Reproducibility of Urinalysis Using Multiple Reagent Test Strips

Abstract

Ninety urine samples were examined twice by 3 "observers" (two persons, using only visual observation, and one person using a spectrophotometric analyser) using multiple reagent teststrips. To determine reproducibility, inter- and intra-observer agreement were calculated and expressed as Cohen's kappa and as weighted kappa. The results show negligible intra-observer differences between the visual and spectrophotometric observation. The lack of agreement between inter- and intra-observer urinalysis results, using multiple reagent test strips was disappointing, considering the simplicity of the test procedure. Further improvement of reproducibility, e.g. by enhancing the discoloration of the test pads, is necessary. Reproducibility is not improved by using a spectrophotometric analyser instead of visual reading of the test strips.