Bilirubin testing can yield a false negative due to which of the following during dipstick testing?

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Multiple Choice

Bilirubin testing can yield a false negative due to which of the following during dipstick testing?

Bilirubin on a dipstick is detected by a colorimetric reaction that can be suppressed by substances in the urine. The most important interference is ascorbic acid—vitamin C. As a reducing agent, it can blunt or prevent the color change the test relies on, producing a false negative even when bilirubin is present. Light exposure can also degrade bilirubin in the sample, leading to a weaker signal, and foods that color urine can skew the color reading, but these are less direct and consistent causes. Nitrites are not typically involved in bilirubin detection and don’t reliably cause false negatives in this test.

Bilirubin on a dipstick is detected by a colorimetric reaction that can be suppressed by substances in the urine. The most important interference is ascorbic acid—vitamin C. As a reducing agent, it can blunt or prevent the color change the test relies on, producing a false negative even when bilirubin is present. Light exposure can also degrade bilirubin in the sample, leading to a weaker signal, and foods that color urine can skew the color reading, but these are less direct and consistent causes. Nitrites are not typically involved in bilirubin detection and don’t reliably cause false negatives in this test.

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