Urine protein is one of the components of most urine dipstick tests. It is more sensitive to albumin and other negatively charged proteins than to positively charged proteins. A positive reading should be confirmed by a quantitative urine protein assay,
Urine Dipstick Reading
Approximate Urine Protein
trace
10-20 mg/dL
1+
30 mg/dL
2+
100 mg/dL
3+
300 mg/dL
4+
>= 1,000 mg/dL
False negative dipstick readings for urine protein:
(1) Bence Jones proteins and other globulins
(2) very dilute urine
False positive dipstick readings:
(1) urine pH >= 8
(2) hematuria
(3) highly concentrated urines
(4) disinfectants (quarternary ammonium groups or chlorohexidine)
(5) phenazopyridine
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