Urobilinogen Testing Methods

What is the primary reaction used in the Multistix urobilinogen test?

What color change indicates a positive result for urobilinogen in the Multistix test?

Which of the following substances can also be detected by the Ehrlich reagent apart from urobilinogen?

What is the range of normal urobilinogen values indicated by the Multistix test?

How quickly should results be read in the Chemstrip urobilinogen test?

Which method is NOT a reliable detection method for porphobilinogen?

What is the chemical compound used in Chemstrip for detecting urobilinogen?

What is a common limitation of the Ehrlich reaction in urobilinogen testing?

Reagent Strip Methods for Urobilinogen Testing

Mechanism: Urobilinogen testing relies on either the Ehrlich aldehyde reaction or the formation of a red azo dye from a diazonium compound.
Multistix Method: Multistix uses the Ehrlich aldehyde reaction. The test area is coated with an acid buffer and p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. This produces a reddish-brown color with urobilinogen. Color intensity correlates to concentration. Normal values are 0.2-1 mg/dL.
Multistix Limitations: This method isn't specific to urobilinogen. It detects other substances that react with Ehrlich's reagent, including porphobilinogen, p-aminosalicylic acid metabolites, sulfonamides, procaine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, indole, and methyldopa. It's unreliable for detecting porphobilinogen.
Chemstrip Method: Chemstrip uses a diazonium compound, 4-methoxybenzene-diazonium-tetrafluoroborate. This compound reacts with urobilinogen in an acidic environment to create a red azo dye. Results are visible within 10-30 seconds.
Chemstrip Sensitivity: The Chemstrip method can detect approximately 0.4 mg/dL urobilinogen.

Explore the different reagent strip methods used for urobilinogen testing, including Multistix and Chemstrip. Understand their mechanisms, limitations, and the significance of the results. This quiz will enhance your knowledge of clinical diagnostic tests.