Specimen Integrity and Preservatives Flashcards
Urine specimen should be tested within
2 hours
Ideally, urine should be tested within
30 mins
Physical, chemical, and microscopic characteristics of urine begin to change
As the urine is voided
Usual cause of changes in unpreserved urine
Bacteria
Increased parameters in urine being unpreserved (pBAON)
pH, Bacteria, Odor, Nitrite
Odor and pH usually change due to
Urease-producing bacteria that produce ammonia (pH loses CO2)
Bacteria and nitrite increase due to
Bacterial multiplication
Color of urine in unpreserved specimen
Darkened or modified due to oxidation or reduction of metabolites
Urobilin in unpreserved specimen
Increased due to oxidation
Decreased parameters in unpreserved urine
Clarity, Glucose, Ketones, Bilirubin, Urobilinogen, RBCs, WBCs, Casts, Trichomonas
Least affected parameter in urine
Protein
Clarity decreases due to
Bacterial multiplication; precipitates amorphous material
Glucose decreases due to
Glycolysis
Ketones decrease due to
Volatilization and bacterial metabolism
Bilirubin decreases due to
Photo-oxidation, light exposure to biliverdin
Urobilinogen decreases due to
Oxidation to urobilin
What happens to RBCs, WBCs, and Casts in unpreserved urine?
Disintegrate in dilute alkaline urine
Trichomonas in unpreserved urine would
Lose motility; possible misidentification as WBCs
Ideal preservative (bactericidal, inhibit urease, preserve elements, no interference)
Does not exist
How are preservatives chosen for urine?
Best suits the needs of the required analysis
Advantages of refrigeration
Does not interfere with chemical tests
Disadvantages of refrigeration of urine
Raises SG by hydrometer; precipitates amorphous phosphates and urates