Background: In view of the obvious practical advantages, the most common test for hematuria is currently a reagent strip.
Methods: A standardized microscopic examination of the sediment was performed in 20 asymptomatic children referred for evaluation of chronic isolated microhematuria detected by means of a reagent strip.
Results: In 6 of the 20 children the microscopic examination failed to confirm the result of the dipstick test.
Conclusions: Confirmation for the presence of hematuria by microscopy is the most important step in children with a positive dipstick for urinary blood.