Infla10® Pulse™Also Known As
Pad weighing test, Diaper test, Incontinence quantification test, Urine leakage measurement, Absorbent pad test
Definition
The Pad Test is a standardized, non-invasive diagnostic procedure used to quantitatively measure urine leakage in patients with urinary incontinence.¹ It involves the use of pre-weighed absorbent pads to capture and measure urine loss over a specified period of time.² The test can be conducted in clinical settings (short-term tests lasting 1-2 hours) or at home (long-term tests lasting 12-48 hours).³ Short-term tests typically involve standardized physical activities to provoke leakage, while long-term tests measure leakage during normal daily activities.⁴ The difference in pad weight before and after the test period provides an objective measurement of urine loss, allowing for assessment of incontinence severity and treatment efficacy.⁵
Clinical Context
The Pad Test is primarily used in the clinical evaluation of patients with suspected or confirmed urinary incontinence.1 It serves multiple purposes in patient care, including initial diagnosis, classification of incontinence type, quantification of severity, and assessment of treatment outcomes.2
For diagnostic purposes, the test helps differentiate between urinary incontinence and other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as vaginal discharge.3 In some variations, like the Pyridium Pad Test, a medication (phenazopyridine) is used to color the urine orange, making it easily distinguishable from other fluids.4
The International Continence Society (ICS) has standardized the 1-hour pad test protocol, which includes specific activities such as walking, stair climbing, coughing, and hand washing to provoke leakage under controlled conditions.5 For severity classification using the 24-hour test, leakage is categorized as mild (1.3-20g), moderate (21-74g), or severe (≥75g).3
The Pad Test is particularly valuable for objectively monitoring treatment effectiveness over time and for guiding clinical decision-making between conservative management and surgical intervention.3 It is commonly used in both clinical practice and research settings, providing a reproducible measure for comparing outcomes across different treatment modalities.5