How accurate are urine dip sticks? did one at dr office and showed protein in urine. can it mean uti? dr taking it to lab for culture.

Quite accurate: Trace protein in the urine is never worrisome by itself. +1 may be worth a workup. +2 is worth investigating. The usual cause is orthostatic proteinuria -- if you're well otherwise, see if your first-voided morning specimen is free of protein, and if it is, you know you're someone who gets proteinuria from standing up -- no big deal. Best wishes.