Abstract

Dr. Shalini P.* and Dr. Karkuzhali Ponnusamy

ABSTRACT

Urine examination is routinely done for various conditions. This study compares the accuracy of semi quantitative methods of protein and sugar in urine as shown by their agreement with the quantitative estimation. Hundred randomly collected samples of urine were analysed for levels of protein and sugar. Protein estimation was done by dipstick and sulphosalicylic acid method (SSA) and sugar by dipstick and Benedict’s semi-quantitative methods. Kappa analysis was done to assess the agreement of these semi quantitative methods with the quantitative estimation. Neither of the two tests for urine protein, dipstick or SSA, showed good agreement with the quantitative estimation (Kappa coefficient 0.26 and 0.07 respectively). However, the dipstick was significantly better than SSA (p‹0.05). for urine sugar, both dipstick and Benedict’s tests showed good agreement with the quantitative estimation (Kappa coefficient 0.78 and 0.84 respectively). The difference between them was insignificant. Results demonstrate that for urine protein, dipstick or SSA show poor agreement with quantitative values. For urine sugar estimation, Benedict’s semi quantitative test shows good agreement with the quantitative values and it is as good as dipstick methods.