Abstract
Objective: The judgment criterion for hematuria on the qualitative dipstick test used in the human dry dock was evaluated. Methods: Dipstick reactions of urine of 5,496 individuals (3,685 males and 1,811 females) who underwent human dry dock examinations at the Kanagawa Labour Hygiene and Welfare Association between October 1,2002 and September 30,2003 were reviewed. Results: Hematuria reactions were + or severer in 13.1% of the males and 32.2% of the females. They were 2+ or severer in 4.4% of the males and 14.4% of the females. Proteinuria reactions were + or severer in 5.5% of the males and 2.3% of the females. Glycosuria reactions were + or severer in 1.3% of the males and 0.3% of the females. Conclusions: Renal dysfunction appeared to be related more closely to the proteinuria-positive rate than to the hematuria-positive rate. By the current dipstick method, it is considered appropriate to judge 2+ or severer hematuria reactions as positive. A test paper that shows a + hematuria reaction when the urinary erythrocyte concentration is 5-6/HPF is needed.
