Urinalysis Flashcards
Q: What is the purpose of urinalysis?
A:
Screening for systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus).
Diagnosis of conditions like urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Monitoring the progress of diseases and response to treatment.
Q: What are the main components of urinalysis?
A:
Microbiological examination.
Chemical analysis using dipstick tests.
Microscopical examination.
Physical assessment of urine (color, clarity).
Q: What is dipstick urinalysis?
A:
A test using reagent strips dipped in urine to detect various substances.
Provides immediate, non-invasive, and cost-effective results.
Must follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid errors.
Q: What substances can dipstick urinalysis detect?
A:
Leukocytes (infection)
Nitrites (UTI)
Protein (renal issues)
Glucose (diabetes)
Ketones (diabetes, starvation)
Blood (trauma, infection)
pH (acidity/alkalinity)
Specific gravity (hydration status)
Bilirubin and Urobilinogen (liver disease)
Q: How should a urine sample be collected for dipstick testing?
A:
Use a freshly voided midstream specimen.
Collect a separate sample if the specimen is sent for lab testing.
Wear gloves and follow infection control protocols.
Q: What is the normal pH range of urine?
A:
4.5 to 8 (neutral is 7).
High pH: UTIs, vegetarian diets, vomiting.
Low pH: Meat consumption, starvation, diarrhea, acidosis.
Q: What causes glucose to appear in urine?
A:
Diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s syndrome, acute pancreatitis.
Some medications for diabetes can cause glucosuria.
Occasionally seen in pregnancy.
Q: What is the significance of protein in urine?
A:
May indicate UTIs, renal disease, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, or heart failure.
Use an early morning sample for better concentration.
Q: What does the presence of ketones in urine indicate?
A:
Starvation, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, excessive dieting.
Produced by the breakdown of fatty acids.
Q: What does a positive nitrite result suggest?
A:
Urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by nitrate-reducing bacteria.
A negative result does not rule out infection if bacteria do not convert nitrates.
Q: What is the normal range for specific gravity in urine?
A:
1.002 to 1.035.
High: Dehydration.
Low: High fluid intake, diabetes insipidus, renal disease.
Q: What is the importance of detecting bilirubin in urine?
A:
Normally absent.
Presence suggests liver or biliary disease.
Q: What is the role of urobilinogen in urinalysis?
A:
Normal range: up to 1.0 mg/dL.
High levels may indicate liver disease or hemolytic anemia.
Q: What are common causes of false-positive dipstick results?
A:
Contaminated containers (e.g., bleach).
Menstrual blood contamination.
Certain medications (e.g., phenothiazines, phenolphthalein).
Q: What are common causes of false-negative dipstick results?
A:
Stale urine samples.
High doses of vitamin C or salicylates.
Diluted urine or improper storage.
Q: How is leukocyte esterase (LE) used in urinalysis?
A:
Detects neutrophils in urine.
A positive result suggests pyuria, often due to a urinary infection.
Q: What safety and infection control measures are essential during urinalysis?
A:
Perform hand hygiene and wear gloves.
Follow local infection prevention policies.
Dispose of waste according to local guidelines.
Q: How are the dipstick results interpreted correctly?
A:
Follow the manufacturer’s timing for reading each pad.
Hold the strip next to the color chart without touching the container.
Read each pad at its specified time interval.
Q: What conditions may be indicated by blood in urine?
A:
Infection, trauma, tumors, kidney/bladder stones, sickle cell anemia.
Investigate levels above 25 red blood cells/µL.
Q: What should be done after completing urinalysis?
A:
Dispose of the sample and equipment according to local policy.
Perform hand hygiene.
Document findings and report any significant results.
Q: How should a patient prepare for urine sample collection?
A:
Clean the genital area with water to prevent contamination.
Collect a midstream urine sample to avoid bacteria from the urethra.
Use a sterile container provided by the healthcare provider.
Q: What are the different types of urine samples and their purposes?
A:
Midstream urine (MSU): Best for detecting UTIs.
First-morning urine: Ideal for detecting proteins and hormones.
24-hour urine collection: Used to assess kidney function and metabolite levels.
Random urine sample: Used for general screening.
Q: Why must urine samples be tested promptly?
A:
Stale samples can lead to false-negative or false-positive results.
Bacteria may multiply, altering pH and nitrite results.
Samples should be tested within 2 hours or refrigerated if delayed.
Q: How should combined abnormal dipstick results be interpreted?
A:
Leukocytes + Nitrites: Strong indicator of a UTI.
Protein + Blood: May suggest glomerulonephritis or kidney trauma.
Glucose + Ketones: Possible sign of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Q: What follow-up actions are required after detecting abnormal results?
A:
Send a urine culture for suspected infections.
Request additional tests (e.g., blood tests, imaging) for kidney issues.
Refer to specialists for persistent or complex abnormalities.
