Urinalysis Flashcards
What is the requirements for specimen collection of urine?
- Dry, clean, leak-proof container
- Minimum of 10-15 mL volume
- First morning collection is best
- Properly labeled with a requisition form
- Tested within 2 hrs* or refrigerated for up to 8 hrs (allow to return to R.T. before testing)
- No testing on a sample older than 4 hours (unless collected in BD preservative tube)
- No microscopy performed on refrigerated samples
- Chemical preservatives can interfere with some of the tests i.e.. Formalin interferes with glucose, blood, leukocyte esterase
How long do BD tubes keep sample integrity for?
For up to 72 hours without refrigeration for urine chemical and microscopic analysis
What preservatives do BD tubes have?
A preservative of chlorhexidine, ethylparaben and sodium propionate
What is used for microscope slide examination of urine?
Kova slide
What is the principle of measurement of the NOVAS?
Combines dry-pad technology with an easy-to-use cassette test format
What is the principle of measurement of the ADVANTUS?
- Dry chemistry reagent strips
- Color change measured by reflectance photometry
- Dual readings at reactive and reference wavelengths
How does time collection of urine affect pH?
It is more acidic in AM, more alkaline after meals
What happens if the pH of a sample is greater than 8?
Can assume the sample is old
What happens if the urine test pad lingers too long in the sample or is not blotted properly?
The acid buffer from the protein pad can contaminate the pH pad and cause a falsely low reading- as test pad is strongly buffered at pH of 3
Why would we look at pH in a urine sample?
Helps determine the type of crystals present in the sample (i.e. uric acid crystals will only be present if the pH is acidic).
What factors contribute to formation of casts in the kidney?
- Larger than normal amounts of plasma proteins entering the tubules
- Decreased pH
- Decreased urinary flow rate (urinary stasis)
- Increased urine concentration (increased specific gravity)
What conditions are hyaline casts seen in?
- Glomerulonephritis
- Strenuous exercise
What do cellular casts consist of?
- Cellular casts consist of a uromodulin mucoprotein matrix containing RBCs or WBCs, renal tubular epithelial cells, or a mixture of these cell types.
Where are cellular casts produced?
Distal tubules
Where may white cell casts be seen?
They are associated with infection or inflammation of the nephron. WBC casts can be seen in cases of pyelonephritis and interstitial nephritis.
What does the presence of red cell casts mean?
The presence of red cell casts in the urine indicates bleeding into the nephron
What do RTE casts indicate?
These casts indicate tubular damage
What are granular casts composed of?
Cellular remnants and by-products of protein degradation
What are waxy casts seen in?
- Stasis of urine flow
- Chronic renal failure
What are fatty casts indicative of?
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Toxic tubular necrosis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Crush injuries
What is a UTI/CYSTIS infection?
An infection of the lower urinary system. Most involve bladder and urethra
What is a PYELONEPHRITIS infection?
It is an infection of the upper urinary system, can be acute or chronic
What can be seen in the urinalysis of acute polynephritis?
Mild proteinuria, positive nitrate, numerous WBCs, RBCs, bacteria; WBC and bacterial casts, transitional and RTE cells
What can be seen in the urinalysis of chronic polynephritis?
Similar to acute pylonephritis. As disease progresses: renal concentration is decreased, increased proteinuria, hematuria; granular, waxy and broad casts
What is an acute PYELONEPHRITIS infection?
Bacterial invasion of the renal parenchyma by ascending from the lower urinary tract due to incomplete bladder emptying which can be due to the bacterial invasion of the bloodstream
What is Glomerulonephritis?
Sterile, inflammatory process in glomerulus and is associated with the finding of blood, protein, and casts in the urine
What can be seen in the urinalysis of Glomerulonephritis?
Marked hematuria, proteinuria; RBC, hyaline and granular casts (broad casts in chronic glomerulonephritis), dysmorphic RBCs and WBCs