Interrater Agreement in the Interpretation of Microscopic Urinalysis

William J. Hueston, Scott Fields, Richard R. McClaflin, Gayleen Eilers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

To determine the reliability of specimen interpretation by outpatient laboratories, 150 consecutive specimens from three family practice centers were analyzed by either two laboratory technicians (n=99) or two family physicians (n=51). The results showed good to excellent agreement for contamination (defined as five or more epithelial cells per highpower field) or significant pyuria (five or more white blood cells per high-power field) or hematuria (five or more red blood cells per high-power field). Agreement between laboratory technicians did not differ significantly from agreement between physicians for the interpretation of contamination or pyuria, but for hematuria, agreement was higher between technicians (P=.02). These results suggest that outpatient interpretation of microscopic urine specimens shows levels of interrater agreement similar to or better than other tests that have been evaluated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)547-549
Number of pages3
JournalArchives of Family Medicine
Volume4
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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