Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Im doing the experiment "I love ice-cream but it doesn't love me" . Im looking to purchase the Glucose test strips for Urinalysis on line at Amazon. I have found many types of strips for urinalysis but non of them say glucose on the label. The strips test for all kinds of items one of these items is glucose. Al long as the strip tests for glucose will these strips work. Or am I looking for a specific strip that just tests for glucose? Also, the lactase drops, I have tablets which say they contain 9,000FCC Lactase Units. How do these compare to the drops? The drops don't give me an amount of lactase contained in each drop. How could I compare the two? Thanks for your help.

Hello tumble1,

I’m assuming that you are working on the project described here:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p031.shtml

I think the type of urine test strip that you found on line will work fine for your project. But you do need to be careful to make sure you are reading the glucose part of the test strip in your experiment. You can get an idea of how the test strips work at the following link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urine_test_strip

My suggestion is to use the lactase drops specified in the project procedure. The drops are available here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ZV ... B002ZVC0UA

To use the tablets you’d need to make a solution of the same concentration as the lactase drops. The lactase concentration of the drops is probably listed on the container. You’d need to dissolve the appropriate weight of tablets in the amount of water needed for the correct concentration.

I hope this helps and good luck with your project. Please post again if you have more questions.

A. Norman

Thank you! That was just what I needed.

Hi, I too am doing this project and am have some difficulties with the test strips. I have tried multiple kinds, multiple solutions, and tried over and over again but to no avail. do you have any advise on what I should do?

Please help this is urgent!!!

Hi, EveWharton05! Can you please describe what you've done that hasn't worked?

When the test strip is dipped in the liquid and then is read, the strip still reads negative

Hello EveWharton05,

Do you have glucose test strips for urinalysis? There is another type of test strip for blood analysis that will not work for this project.

You might want to review the information at the following link regarding how to use urine test strips.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urine_test_strip

Did you make and test a control solution of 2% glucose in water? This should give a color change on your test strip.

I hope this helps and good luck with your project. Please post again if you have more questions.

A. Norman