What type of strip is used to determine if a wound is leaking?

Fluorescein strips are used to determine if a wound, particularly in the eye, is leaking. This is due to the properties of fluorescein, a dye that fluoresces under blue light. When applied to an area around a wound or injury, fluorescein will seep into any defects in the surface layer, such as the cornea or conjunctiva, indicating a leak.

When assessing a wound for leakage, particularly in ophthalmology, squinting or loss of integrity in the ocular structure can be evaluated with fluorescein. If the fluorescein dye spreads outside of the area where it's applied, it signifies that there is a break or path for it to escape, confirming leakage.

Other types of strips, such as litmus strips, are used for pH measurement; trichrome strips are typically associated with histological staining; and staining strips are not specific to identifying leaks but rather are a more general term for diagnostic stains. Thus, fluorescein strips are the appropriate tool for this specific task in ophthalmic practice.