Evaluation of the OvuSTICK urinary luteinizing hormone kit in normal and stimulated menstrual cycles

The rapid analysis of luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine would provide a useful clinical tool in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility in women. Urinary LH levels were measured in midday and evening specimens collected during 75 normal and stimulated menstrual cycles (55 women) using a rapid, visual, semiquantitative enzyme immunoassay dipstick test (OvuSTICK) and compared with basal body temperature (BBT) records, visualization of follicular collapse by daily ultrasonography, and serum hormone levels. In all 75 cycles studied, an LH surge (or its absence) in urine was associated with a biphasic (or monophasic) BBT record and/or serum progesterone. In addition, when serum and urine samples were obtained simultaneously, the day of the LH surge (or its absence) in the urine and serum correlated 100%. Discrepancies between ovulation as diagnosed by ultrasound and the LH surge in urine and/or serum in several patients suggested that individual factor(s) may affect the interpretation of ultrasound imaging. It appears that a simple, rapid, clinically reliable colorimetric method such as the OvuSTICK urinary LH test is an important parameter for predicting the time of ovulation.