BMJ 2002;325:1481 ( 21 December )

Filler

A medical mishap

Stix nix

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

During an obstetric diabetes clinic, many patients tested positive for blood and protein in the urine by means of routine urine dipsticks. All samples were retested, but it was not until the end of the clinic that we noticed that Multistix SG strips (Bayer) had been used in one of the two Clinitek 50 meters instead of the intended Multistix 8 SG strip. This had led to repeated false positive results for blood and protein in every patient, empirical antibiotic treatment in one patient with symptoms of urinary tract infection, multiple requests for midstream urine microscopy (one of which revealed asymptomatic candidiasis), and potentially false negative results in patients to whom this test is extremely important.

Multistix SG strips test for glucose, bilirubin, ketone, specific gravity, blood, pH, protein, and urobilinogen, whereas Multistix 8 SG strips test for glucose, ketone, specific gravity, blood, pH, protein, nitrite, and leucocytes (listed in order on strips). . . . [Full text of this article]
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