Urine Collection Flashcards
What is the role of a MA during urine collection?
- obtain and process a specimen
- follow chain of custody procedures
- identify normal and abnormal results
- reasons for collecting urine and fecal samples
- instruct or assist patient in collection of a specimen
What should MAs tell patients for a urine collection?
- do not discard preservative in containers
- refrigerate the collection container
- keep lid on the container
What is in the physical examination of urine?
- check label
- check for visible contamination
- check for odor
- check time since collection
What should the proper color of urine be?
pale yellow to dark amber
What is the proper concentration of urine?
pale color = diluted
dark color = concentrated
What is the normal turbidity of urine?
clear, slightly cloudy, cloudy, very cloudy
- swirl to reveal settlements
What is reagent strip testing?
- color changes = presence of a substance and its concentration
- tests for ketones, nitrite, pH, blood, bilirubin, glucose, specific gravity, protein, leukocytes
What are the rules for reagent strips?
- keep bottle tightly closed
- remove strip just prior to use
- do not touch pads
- check for discoloration and expiration date
- date new bottles and discard after 6 months
- follow reading guidelines for time
What are the components of chemical analysis?
- glucose: read test at 30 seconds
- protein: very small amounts
- specific gravity: normal: 1.005-1.030
- blood
- bilirubin: breakdown of hemoglobin
- ketones
- pH
- urobilinogen: liver dysfunction
- nitrites
- leukocytes: read last at 120 seconds
What is glycouria?
increased glucose in the urine (diabetes indicator)
What is proteinuria?
excess protein in the urine (kidney issue indicator)
What is hematuria? What does it indicate?
- blood present in urine
- UTI
- Cancer
- nephritis
- urolithiasis
What does bilirubin indicate?
early signs of liver disease
What are ketones?
products of fat and protein metabolism in the body
- there should be none in urine
What do ketones in urine indicate?
- patient following a low carbohydrate diet
- starvation
- excessive vomiting
- diabetes mellitus
what is normal pH of urine?
4.5-8.0
- average = 6.0
What do nitrites in the urine indicate?
bacterial UTI
What do leukocytes in the urine indicate?
inflammation or UTI
What does centrifuge do?
- spins urine (heavier substances settle to the bottom)
What can be seen in microscopic examination of urine?
- cells
- casts
- crystals
- yeast cells
- bacteria
- parasites
What is the random urine specimen?
- taken at any time of the day
- no requirements
- for screening
- most common
What is first morning specimen?
- after night’s sleep
- contains greater concentration of substances
- good for hCG testing
- tell patient to refrigerate sample until delivered to office
What is the clean-catch midterm specimen?
- collected when reagent strip testing has abnormalities (leukocytes or when UTI is suspected)
- specimen is cultured to identify the number and the types of pathogens present
- special cleansing of the external genitalia to avoid contamination of bacteria
What is the patient education specimen?
- perform cleaning using moist wipes
- patient to void small amount of urine into the toilet
- only catch the midstream portion
- urinate the rest into the toilet
What is the 24 hour specimen?
- used to diagnose proteinuria, hypercalciuria, creatinine clearance, urinary output
What are the instructions for 24 hour specimen test?
- discard first morning specimen on first day
- collect all urine for the 24 hour period
- include next morning urine
- don’t mix with toilet paper or stool
- keep refrigerated until returning
What is the catheterized urine test?
- catheter inserted into the bladder
- not routine procedure due to risk of infection
- not in MA scope of practice
- sterile procedure needed
