Principles of Urinalysis Flashcards

(25 cards)

1
Q

Describe the colour of urine

A

Ranges from pale straw to amber colour depending on concentration

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2
Q

What determines urine colour?

A

urochrome - a by-product of haemoglobin breakdown and concentration/hydration

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3
Q

What is the normal clarity of urine?

A

Usually transparent

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4
Q

How would you describe the smell of fresh urine?

A

Ideally should not be offensive

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5
Q

What is the normal pH of urine?

A

Ranges from 4.5 - 8

acidic around pH 6

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6
Q

What is the specific gravity of urine?

A

1.002 - 1.035

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7
Q

What does a higher gravity of urine indicate?

A

1.035 is more concentrated as occurs in dehydration

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8
Q

What does a lower gravity of urine indicate?

A

A lower reading (1.002) indicates more dilute urine e.g. due to higher fluid intake

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9
Q

What percentage does water constitute to urine?

A

96%

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10
Q

What dissolved substances are in urine?

A
  • urea and other substances
  • uric acid
  • creatinine
  • ammonia
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11
Q

Give examples of ‘urea and other substances’ found in urine?

A

uric acid, sodium, potassium, creatinine, sulphates, oxalates, chlorides

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12
Q

What is uric acid found in urine?

A

breakdown of nucleic acid urea - product of protein breakdown in liver

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13
Q

What is creatinine found in urine?

A

results from metabolism in muscles

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14
Q

What is ammonia found in urine?

A

by-product of amino acid breakdown

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15
Q

When would urinalysis be carried out during pregnancy?

A
  • antenatal booking & appointments
  • monitor during labour
  • admission to hospital
  • specific medical disorder apparent
  • clinical symptoms e.g. dysuria
  • altered micturition
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16
Q

What effects the colour of urine?

A
  • hydration
  • haematuria (blood in urine)
  • diet (red foods - beetroot)
  • medications
17
Q

What is the significance of cloudy urine?

A
  • Cloudy if left to stand for several minutes due to precipitation of solutes.
  • Proteinuria
  • Bacteriuria
18
Q

What can affect the odour of urine?

A
  • high concentration
  • stagnant urine has an ammonia smell
  • ketones = sweet odour
  • infection = fishy, offensive odour
  • foods - fish, curry etc
19
Q

What can cause protein to be present in the urine?

A

contamination, infection or underlying disease

20
Q

Why might blood be present in the urine?

A

infection, trauma, disease or vaginal contamination

21
Q

Why might glucose be present in the urine?

A
  • glycosuria can be result of glucose threshold being lowered during pregnancy
  • diabetes
22
Q

What are ketones? Why might ketones be present in the urine?

A
  • Product of fat metabolism

- Due to fasting, vomiting, diabetes, in labour if energy stores reduced

23
Q

Why might nitrites be present in the urine?

A

Nitrates from diet are converted to nitrites in the presence of bacteria therefore if in urine indicative of urinary tract infection

24
Q

What does high levels of urobilinogen mean in the urine?

A

May indicate liver abnormalities or excessive destruction of red blood cells as in haemolytic anaemia

25
Why might leucocytes (white blood cells) be present in urine?
Inflammation or infection along urinary tract often in the bladder or kidney