Diagnostic value of urine strip testing for white blood cells: An implication for screening in individuals with spinal cord injury

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an important health problem affecting millions of people each year. A significant high incidence of UTI can be seen in individuals with disabilities, especially those with paralysis due to spinal cord injury. Dip stick screening tests may offer promise as an early warning system of UTI since they are easy to perform and can be self-administered. Here, we report our experience of the diagnostic value of the urine strip test for white blood cell count in medical laboratory practice. The sensitivity of urine strip test was 100%, the specificity 92.2%, the positive predictive value 33.8% and the negative predictive value 100%. False positive was 7.8% and false negative 0%. This can confirm the needs for further examination in cases with positive urine strip screening test. Hence, the usage of urine strip examination as a screening tool for pyuria, an early sign of UTI among people with disabilities is recommended.