What is a pH test strip?
Every liquid in the human body has a so-called pH value. This ranges between 0 and 12 and indicates whether a liquid is rather acidic (0) or basic (14). The pH value of a liquid can be determined with a pH test strip (also called indicator strip, indicator sticks or universal indicator).
To do this, simply add some liquid to the strip or hold the strip in the liquid. Depending on the pH value in the liquid, the indicator strip changes color between red (acidic) or blue (basic). The pH value can then be read relatively accurately using the color scale supplied.
What pH values in the human body can be determined with it?
Mostly pH test strips are used to determine the pH value of urine. The pH value of vaginal secretion can also be determined with test strips for the vagina. This can also be used to detect amniotic fluid leakage or infections during pregnancy. A rarer application for pH test strips is also the measurement of the pH value of saliva. The determination of the pH value of other body fluids, such as blood, should always be carried out in a laboratory by medical personnel.
How do I use the pH test strip correctly?
The correct use of test strips depends on the body fluid being tested. If urine is being tested, so-called midstream urine should always be used. This means that the first part of the urine stream should be let into the toilet before the test strip is held in the urine stream or urine is collected in a container in which the test strip is then placed.
Since the pH of urine depends on many factors, such as diet or time of day, the urine pH should be determined at least three times a day, and in the best case six times a day. In addition, the pH value of the urine also fluctuates within several days, so it should always be measured on several consecutive days before a general conclusion can be drawn about the urine pH value. The measurement of the pH value of saliva is controversial due to the strong influence of food.
If you still want to determine the pH value of your saliva, you should in any case not eat or drink anything for at least two hours before the measurement. Saliva should also be measured several times during the day. When measuring in the vagina, the indicator stick should be inserted a few centimeters into the vagina.
Certain test gloves are also available for this purpose, with indicator paper on the index finger. Performing the measurement with gloves is more hygienic than inserting the stick or paper with the finger. Again, several measurements should be taken at different times and not just the value of a single measurement should be taken into account.
