Mobile medical applications #4: uCheck

Semi-automated urine analysis simplified

Urine analysis – testing for glucose, protein, ketones, blood, pH and more – offers information on factors ranging from carbohydrate metabolism and kidney and liver function to urinary tract infections. A new product and smartphone app from uCheck is aiming to take such testing and make it available anywhere a healthcare professional may be.

The uCheck urine analyzer consists of a smartphone app and a kit that includes standard test strips that change color when dipped in urine, a colormat for comparison and a box (the cuboid) to standardize analysis as well as take away certain human factors such as camera shake.

The test strip is dipped in urine and placed on the colormat which is then covered by the cuboid and centered with your phone’s camera. Photos are automatically taken and test results can be seen in under 5 minutes for the entire process.

uCheck is classified as a medical device and should be used by a qualified medical professional. Studies have shown that accuracy of this smart phone solution is comparable to commercially available laboratory machines while a fraction of the cost. It’s another way mobile technology helps physicians improve care and lower costs. Read more on the subject in “The Rise of Mobile Health” issue of Protocol.