Urinalysis

Question 1

What is a urinalysis (3)

Answer 1

1. Diagnostic stool
2. Tells us what should and should not be in the urine
3. A good indicator for disease or disorder

Question 2

What does the colour indicate (2)

Answer 2

1. Clear → cloudy - an indication of infection
2. Colourless → amber - changed by things like food or drugs.

Question 3

What does the specific gravity of a urinalysis indicate (4)

Answer 3

1. The concentration of urine - stuff in urine (osmolarity)
2. Normal specificc gravity = 1.003 → 1.03
3. above 1.03 = dehydration (more stuff or not enough fluid), presence of glucose, not enough ADH = concentrated urine
4. Below 1.003 = hydration, diabetes insipidus (no glucose in urine, too much ADH)

Question 4

What does pH in a urinalysis indicate (4)

Answer 4

1. Normal pH range = 4.5 → 8.
2. normally sits between 5.5 → 6.5
3. More proteins = more acidic urine
4. Bacteria splitting urea (UTI), food = More basic urine

Question 5

What does glucose in a urinalysis indicate (3)

Answer 5

1. Ingested too much sugar
2. Diabetes
3. glucose overwhelms filtration, pulls water with it, increasing water production

Question 6

What does ketones in a urinalysis indicate (3)

Answer 6

1. Indicator of type 1 diabetes
2. insulin is not present, so alternate energy is produced in the form of ketones
3. Ketones also produced on low carbohydrate diet

Question 7

What does blood (peroxidase activity) in a urinalysis indicate (3)

Answer 7

1. Indicators of haemoglobin, myoglobin and erythrocyte function
2. Erythrocytes don’t get filtered at the glomerulus (too big) therefore presence means damage or infection in the urinary tract
3. Myoglobin and haemoglobin - get filtered in low amounts, higher levels may be caused by intense exercise. Also, crash injury (crushed muscle)

Question 8

What does protein in a urinalysis indicate (3)

Answer 8

1. Proteins that get filtered are less than 20’000D (mw) - albumin, globulins
2. Transient increased protein = heart failure, exercise stress, fever (short-term).
3. Transient increased protein = damage to the glomerulus (long-term).

Question 9

What does nitrites in a urinalysis indicate (3)

Answer 9

1. Should be in the urine
2. Bacteria turns nitrates into nitrites
3. Indicates UTI

Question 10

What does leukocytes in a urinalysis indicate (3)

Answer 10

1. Indicator of infection
2. UTI (culture needed to show the presence of bacteria)
3. No bacteria = itis - inflammatory response

Question 11

What does bilirubin + urobilinogen in a urinalysis indicate (4)

Answer 11

1. Red blood cells → spleen (breaks up haemoglobin) → heme → liver → bilirubin → bile → small intestine → urobilinogen
2. This indicates too many red blood cells breaking down
3. Liver dysfunction
4. Problem with bile or bile ducts