Evaluation of dipsticks for the assessment of microhaematuria

Three types of dipstick were evaluated for the detection of microhaematuria. One type showed no false positives with erythrocyte-free urine, and no false negatives with a urine erythrocyte concentration of 20 X 10(6)/l using 5-10 X 10(6)/l as limit. This pattern of readings was produced by all the observers, thus indicating that method variation was satisfactory. The two other types of dipstick were clearly less sensitive, and had less desirable characteristics.