What could indicator strips test for in urine specimens besides specific gravity?

Indicator strips used for testing urine specimens are versatile tools designed to assess various components in the urine. Besides specific gravity, these strips can indeed test for albumin and bile.

Albumin is a type of protein that, when present in urine, can indicate kidney dysfunction, as healthy kidneys typically prevent significant amounts of protein from entering the urine. The presence of albumin may signal conditions such as nephritis or other renal diseases.

Bile pigments in urine can be tested for using indicator strips as well. The presence of bile can be a sign of liver issues, such as hepatitis or bile duct obstructions, as bile acids are normally processed by the liver and sent into the intestines. When these processes are disrupted, bile components can spill over into the urine.

The other choices include substances that are generally not tested for using standard urine indicator strips. While pH and glucose levels can be tested, they are not the only attributes evaluated, excluding the comprehensive capabilities of the strips. Cholesterol and electrolytes are not typically measured with basic urine dipsticks, and urobilinogen and creatinine also fall outside the standard tests for these strips, focusing instead on a narrower selection of analytes.