How to check liver function at home?
Yes, you can! A urine dipstick test, also called a rapid urine test, is the fastest way to monitor signs of liver-related conditions. The results of a standard dipstick urinalysis become instantly available, and what's more, anyone can conduct this liver health assessment at home or in clinical/lab settings very quickly. The at home liver test kits usually come with urine test strips (dipsticks) and a color-code chart corresponding to different health parameters, including bilirubin and urobilinogen. To get a holistic health view, you should choose a multiparameter urine dipstick kit like Urinox-10 that checks as many as ten health indicators, including those related to liver health.
How do I perform and interpret a liver dipstick test?
To perform a liver dipstick test, all you need to do is dip one of the urine strips into the urine sample and, after the stipulated time, match the shade/color of the reagent pads with the accompanying color code chart.
For the bilirubin in urine test, any shade of white or cream on the reagent pad indicates a negative result. However, if the pad changes to peach, brown, or reddish-brown, it indicates a positive result for bilirubin. The intensity of the color usually correlates with the levels of bilirubin in the test sample (the darker the color, the higher the concentration). For a healthy liver, the bilirubin test should yield a negative result.
A small level of urobilinogen in urine is typically present in healthy individuals. However, an abnormal concentration of urobilinogen yields a positive test result, indicated by the change of reagent pad color to pink.
If both tests yield a positive result, the risks to liver health are further amplified. This means, you should immediately consult a healthcare professional to further investigate your liver health.
Urinox-10 urine test strips are FDA-cleared for professional use and are CLIA-waived test strips that deliver clinical-grade accuracy within two minutes. The Urinox mobile app helps you monitor urinalysis results and to share them digitally with your healthcare provider.
How important is an at-home urine test for liver health?
An at-home liver test is an efficient tool for you to monitor and manage your health. While a clinical diagnosis should always come from a medical expert, urinalysis using Urinox-10 kit allows you to counter any potential risk to your liver health. It is an educated choice; an affordable and convenient way to diagnose, monitor, and manage the health of your liver.
