A positive urine dipstick for protein usually indicates?

• A. Proteinuria; could indicate kidney disease or urinary tract inflammation.
• B. Glycosuria.
• C. Hematuria.
• D. Ketones.

Answer: (A)

A positive urine dipstick for protein means proteinuria is present in the urine. This finding points to proteins leaking into the urine, which most often reflects some degree of kidney dysfunction—such as glomerular or tubular injury—but it can also occur with urinary tract inflammation that allows more protein to pass into the urine. Because a dipstick is a screening test, a positive result should be followed by quantitative measurements of protein (like a protein-to-creatinine ratio) and further evaluation to identify the cause. Be mindful that factors such as urine concentration or contamination can affect the result, so clinical context is important.