1. CHARACTERISTICS OF URINE

2. Urinalysis Physical characteristics: color, odor,
turbidity, volume, & specific gravity
Chemical characteristics: pH, glucose, protein, ketones, pus (WBC’s & bacteria), RBC’s, hemoglobin, bile
Microscopic exam of urine sediment: crystals, cells, etc.

3. Why is urinalysis an important part of routine patient exams?
Urine contains important metabolic information & the presence of abnormal substances is helpful in disease diagnosis
Urine is cheap, simple, & readily available

4. Odor
Fresh urine has a slight characteristic odor but drugs such as nicotine, veggies such as asparagus, & diseases such as PKU or diabetes can alter odor
Standing (“old”) urine takes on an ammonia odor due to bacterial action on urine solutes

5. List the three main organic solutes of urine
Urea, creatinine, & uric acid

6. List the three main inorganic solutes of urine
Sodium, potassium, & chloride

7. State the average daily urine output
mL ( L)

8. State the normal daily range of urine output
mL ( L)

9. Define the following terms:
Anuria - complete stoppage of urine
Oliguria - reduced amount of urine
Polyuria - increased amount of urine
Nocturia - increased amount of
night

10. Describe the different types of urine specimens used in a medical lab
Random
1st morning
Mid-stream clean catch (MSCC)
Fasting
24 hour

11. List the normal colors of urine
Any shade of yellow due to the pigment urochrome: light yellow, yellow, dark yellow, amber . . .

12. List abnormal colors of urine & possible causes
Colorless - XS fluid intake; diabetes
Orange - bilirubin, XS Vitamin A
Green - bile, Pseudomonas bacteria
Red/Brown - hemoglobin, beets
Black - melanins
Any abnormal color can be due to dyes, foods, or medications

13. State the term used to describe urine appearance
Turbidity - “cloudiness” due to
particulate matter
suspended in urine
Clear, transparent, hazy, cloudy, turbid, milky, or system

14. Identify several factors that may affect urine appearance
Crystals, WBC’s, RBC’s, bacteria, epithelial cells, lipids, mucus, fecal material, semen, lymph fluid, yeast, powders, creams, cotton fibers, etc.

16. Define specific gravity
Density of a substance compared to an equal volume of water at a similar temperature

17. Describe a urinometer & the procedure for using it to determine s. g
Describe a urinometer & the procedure for using it to determine s.g. of urine
A device that displaces water and sinks to a level indicative of the specific gravity
Pour urine in jar, place urinometer in fluid, spin & when it settles, read the results

18. State the normal range of specific gravity for human urine

19. Explain the significance of a specific gravity of 1.023 - 1.035
Normal; or above indicates good kidney function

20. List 4 common reasons for abnormally high specific gravity results
Presence of glucose
Presence of protein
Recent X-ray exposure
Use of IV’s
Dehydrating illnesses - fever, sweat, vomit, diarrhea

21. List possible reasons for abnormally low specific gravity results
Diabetes insipidus (water diabetes)
Renal (kidney) disease/damage

22. Chemical Tests for Urine - pH
Average Range: Average: 6.0
Affected by diet & changes in body metabolism
Acidic urine: -high protein diet or lots of
whole wheat = acid forming
foods
-diabetes
Alkaline urine: -high veggie or dairy diet = base
forming foods
-UTI
Either: medications, kidney stones (renal calculi)

23. Chemical Tests for Urine - Glucose (glycosuria)
Benign: -heavy meal
-emotional stress
Pathologic: -diabetes mellitus
-kidney tubule defects
-CNS damage
-thyroid disorders

24. Chemical Tests for Urine - Protein (proteinuria)
Benign: -cold
-strenuous exercise
-acute illness (fever)
-orthostatic proteinuria
Pathologic: -*kidney damage*
-pre-eclampsia
-hypertension
-multiple myeloma

25. Chemical Tests for Urine - Pus (Pyuria)
UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) or
contaminated specimen
High Risk for UTI:
-School age children esp. girls
-pregnant women
-diabetic people
-previous history of UTI’s
-patients with catheters
-elderly people

26. Chemical Tests for Urine - RBC’s (Hematuria)
Whole blood = cloudy red
Bleeding in the urinary tract
-trauma (ex: auto accident, kick)
-kidney stones (renal calculi)
-kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
-tumors
-toxic chemicals/drugs

27. Chemical Tests for Urine - Hemoglobin (hemoglobinuria)
Hemoglobin = clear, red appearance
-hemolytic anemia
-transfusion reactions
-severe burns

28. Chemical Tests for Urine - Bile (bilirubinuria)
-hepatitis/liver disease

29. Chemical Tests for Urine - Ketones (ketonuria)
Source: breakdown of fats instead of
carbohydrates for energy
-diabetes
-starvation (decreased carbohydrate
intake or increase carbohydrate loss -
vomiting)
-wrong dose of insulin

30. End.