4.2 pH Flashcards
Causes of Acid Urine
Emphysema
Diabetes mellitus
Starvation
Dehydration
Diarrhea
Presence of acid-producing bacteria (Escherichia coli)
High-protein diet
Cranberry juice
Medications
(methenamine mandelate [Mandelamine],
fosfomycin tromethamine [Monurol])
Causes of Alkaline Urine
Hyperventilation
Vomiting
Renal tubular acidosis
Presence of urease producing bacteria
Vegetarian diet
Old specimens
What is the typical pH range for a healthy individual’s first morning urine specimen?
Slightly acidic, between pH 5.0 to 6.0.
What is the pH range for normal random urine specimens?
4.5 to 8.0.
What is the clinical significance of urine pH in metabolic or respiratory disorders?
Acidic urine is found in acidosis (metabolic/respiratory), and alkaline urine is found in alkalosis.
Why is maintaining an alkaline urine pH important for preventing kidney stones?
It helps prevent the formation of calcium oxalate renal calculi, which precipitate in acidic urine.
How can urinary pH help in treating urinary tract infections (UTIs)?
Maintaining acidic urine can inhibit the multiplication of urea-splitting organisms responsible for UTIs.
What effect does a high-protein or high-meat diet have on urinary pH?
It tends to produce acidic urine.
How does a vegetarian diet affect urinary pH?
It tends to produce alkaline urine
What is a dietary exception that leads to acidic urine despite a vegetarian diet?
Consumption of cranberry juice or supplements produces acidic urine and can help prevent UTIs.
What medications are used to produce acidic urine for UTI treatment?
Methenamine mandelate (Mandelamine) and fosfomycin tromethamine (Monurol)
What pH level in urine suggests improper specimen preservation?
A pH above 8.5.
What color change indicates pH levels from 5 to 6 using reagent strips?
Methyl red changes from red to yellow.
What color change indicates pH levels from 6 to 9 using reagent strips?
Bromothymol blue changes from yellow to blue.
What can cause a falsely acidic pH reading when using Multistix reagent strips?
Runover from the highly acidic protein testing area into the pH testing area.
