URINALYSIS

Examination of urine for physical &

chemical characteristics
A. transparency clear to slightly cloudy. If
cloudy, may contain fat globules,
epithelial cells, mucus, microbes, or
chemicals.
B. color amber, straw or transparent
yellow- presence of urochromes such as
urobilinogen- a bacterial product derived
from bilirubin
 B. color
Yellow- brown to greenish- high
concentration of bile pigments
present.
Red to dark brown- presence of blood
or food pigments such as carotene,
presence of drugs or other chemicals.
Specific test- Use of Dip- &- read
clinical test strip
 SIGNIFICANCE
Urine reflects the overall status of
extracellular fluid since it is derived
from blood and its contents have
been adjusted to some extent on the
basis of homeostatic balance.
Urine characteristics are affected by
the health of the kidney & urinary
tract.
 ACTUAL TESTS
1. pH determination- relative H +
concentration as determinant of acidity.
Normal pH- 4.6 8. Lower means more
acid as in acidosis, starvation and
dehydration. Higher means more alkaline
as in urinary infections & alkalosis.
2. specific gravity- ratio of urine density
to water density. Sp. gr. is 1.000 if urine
is pure water. Normal sp. gr. is 1.001-
1.030
 2. Specific gravity
Lower values indicate kidney disease
Higher values- indicate high solute
concentration & may occur during
dehydration or diabetes mellitus.
3. glucose determination- Normal-
absence of glucose. Trace maybe
present after eating a high
carbohydrate meal but continued high
levels in the urine may indicate
diabetes mellitus or pituitary problems.
 4. proteins
Albumin is a small protein molecule that is
normally absent or present only in
trace amounts. Higher levels may indicate
hypertension or kidney disease but
detectible levels are normal after exercise.
Others: a. leucocytes occasional WBCs
are normal but values increase in UTI.
b. ketone- a by- product of fat
metabolism, may be present during fasting,
diabetes mellitus or low-carbohydrate diet.
 Other urine components:
C. bilirubin normally not present or present
in trace amounts this product of RBC destruction
in the liver may indicate liver disease or bile tract
obstruction if present.
D. nitrite- normally not present, but presence
indicates large amounts of bacteria, as in an
infection.
E. urobilinogen- normally not present, but
presenceindcates excessive destruction of rbc or
liver disease.
F. occult blood- (RBCs or free hgb)- occult means
hidden. Normally not present, may indicate
kidney infection if presentor the presence of
stones in the kidney, ureter or bladder.
 COMMON URINE SEDIMENT
COMPONENTS:
1. cells epithelial cells from urinary tract
lining, blood cells from injury or infection
sites, or infectious microbes indicative of
UTI if more than trace amounts of blood &
microbes.
2. casts- masses of cells, granules or other
substances.
3. crystals- large number due to urinary
retention which may become large masses
called stones or calculi.
4. artifacts
 PREGNANCY TEST
Test for high level of human chorionic
gonadotropin (HCG) during the first
trimester of pregnancy
More convenient test uses monoclonal
antibodies, which are protein
molecules from cultured immune cells
that react with HCG.
Positive result Red lines appear in the
control window and result window.