Volume 16, Issue 1: 2026 - Article 213

Abstract
Urinalysis is a very useful low-cost diagnostic tool in both human and veterinary medical practice. Human urine test strips (dipsticks) are commonly used for urinalysis in veterinary practice, and the accuracy and reliability of these test strips for the urinalysis in specific animals have not been fully investigated. The present study compared horse urine glucose test results obtained using Medi-Test Combi 9® (MTC9) test strips with results obtained using a Diatek® semi-automated biochemistry analyzer (DSBA). Urine samples used for the study were obtained from 342 horses, by cystocentesis, at point of slaughter at the Obollo-Afor Horse Abattoir, Enugu State Nigeria. Glucose estimation using the MTC9 test strips was done within one hour of urine sample collection. Urine glucose quantification using the DSBA was done following the glucose oxidase method using Dialab® glucose test kit with calibration standards. Results showed that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the means of urine glucose levels of the 342 horses as determined using the DSBA (65.03 ± 13.11 mg/dl) when compared with estimates obtained using MTC9 test strip (63.88 ± 16.17 mg/dl). There was a moderate and significant positive correlation (r = 0.473; p < 0.01) between the urine glucose levels of the 342 horses determined by the two procedures. Urine glucose levels of more than 80% (MTC9) and 90% (DSBA) of the horses were between 51 – 90 mg/dl, which was above the levels considered normal in humans (≥ 50 mg/dl). An area chart of the urine levels of the apparently healthy horses as determined by the DSBA showed that urine levels between 50 and 90 mg/dl lie within the normal range. Though there was no significant difference between the means of the urine glucose as determined by MTC9 and DBSA, the correlation between the two procedures was only moderately positive; implying that MTC9 tests strips may not give reliable results of urine glucose levels for horse urine. Also, the normal/reference urine glucose levels of the horses evaluated (50 – 90 mg/dl) was relatively higher than the 30 – 50 mg/dl that is considered normal in humans.

Keywords: Urinalysis; Urine Glucose; Human urine test strips (dipstick); Horses; Biochemical analyzer.


How to cite this article:
Chukwuma JC, Ezema AS, Nwaigwe CC and Ihedioha JI (2025). The use of human urine test strips (HUTS) for urinalysis in animals: comparison of urine glucose levels of horses as determined using HUTS and a biochemical analyzer. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 16(1): 1300 – 1309.


*Correspondence: E-mail:     jacinthachukwuma@gmail.com     Phone: +2349063470232

The use of human urine test strips (HUTS) for urinalysis in animals: comparison of urine glucose levels of horses as determined using HUTS and a biochemical analyzer
Jacintha C. Chukwuma ^{1, 2} *, Arinzechukwu S. Ezema ¹, Chioma C. Nwaigwe ³ and John I. Ihedioha <sup>1

1</sup> Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
² Foundation for Education and Research on Health, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
³ Department of Veterinary Physiology & Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

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