Abstract
In general practice and small-scale health screening centers where the introduction of an automatic urine analyzer is difficult, the urine analysis test papers are judged visually and, therefore, the observer makes a subjective judgment. No method has so far has been established for objective visual evaluation of urine analysis test papers. In this study, we developed a color comparison program using the CIE DE2000 color-difference formula using images taken with a smartphone camera to objectively judge the color of the urine analysis test paper. The color difference between the standard color sample and the part of the image selected by the mouse was calculated using the color comparison program. The color with the smallest color difference was output as the judgment result. The results of the color comparison program were compared with the results of the automatic urine analyzer. On the judgment of the normal values using the urine qualitative control solution level I, all items of comparison were consistent between the two methods. The judgment of abnormal values using level II was consistent except for the items of glucose, occult blood, and creatinine. In conclusion, we validated the possibility of developing an inexpensive and simple screening test.
