NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Clinical Patient CareMedium
A medical assistant is performing a urinalysis using a reagent strip. The strip shows a positive result for nitrites. Which of the following conditions does this finding most likely indicate?
- ADiabetes mellitus
- BDehydration
- CUrinary tract infection
- DKidney stones
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Urinary tract infection
A positive nitrite result on a urinalysis reagent strip is a strong indicator of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Many common bacteria that cause UTIs convert urinary nitrates (normally present) into nitrites.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Diabetes mellitus is typically indicated by glucose in the urine, not nitrites.
- B. Dehydration can concentrate urine, but does not directly cause nitrites to appear.
- D. Kidney stones can cause blood in the urine or pain, but not typically a positive nitrite test.
Urinalysis Nitrites
A chemical test on a urine reagent strip that detects the presence of nitrites, a byproduct of bacterial metabolism.
- Strong indicator of bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI).
- Bacteria convert nitrates to nitrites.
- False negatives can occur if urine hasn't been in bladder long enough.
- Should be correlated with leukocyte esterase and patient symptoms.
Memory trick: Nitrites: Nasty Infection, Trouble Everywhere!