[Critical study of microscopic hematuria disclosed by screening tests]

Asymptomatic microscopic haematuria detected by dipstick in 0.28 p. 100 of 95,200 men was confirmed in only 0.11 p. 100. These results lead to the study of 272 cases to determine the value of dipsticks as a screening test and the benefits of complementary investigations to exclude symptomless diseases. Microscopic haematuria was confirmed in 65 p. 100 but results of other tests reduce the false positive screening results to 25.3 p. 100. Addis counting of at least 5,000 RBC/min is preferable to RBC count/ml which is dilution dependent. 77 p. 100 of microscopic haematuria are intermittent and can only be diagnosed by repeated Addis counts. In the absence of confirmed haematuria, only investigations to exclude proteinuria and urinary infections are justified.