The aim of this practical is to develop further knowledge of the composition of urine and how it may change in disease

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Neelam Farooq        urinalysis assessed practical report

27/04/2004

Introduction

The aim of this practical is to develop further knowledge of the composition of urine and how it may change in disease. Urinalysis is the analysis of several properties of urine such as the volume, physical, chemical and microscopic properties of urine and reveals a significant amount about the state of the body.

The volume of urine voided by an adult human body can vary considerably depending on several factors such as fluid intake, blood pressure, blood osmolality, diet, body temperature, diuretics, mental state of the subject and general health. The normal range for volume of urine voided is 1-2 litres/day. The depth of the colour of urine gives an indication of how concentrated it is although the usual colour is amber. Unusual colours such as red may indicate the presence of blood, drugs or other colour pigments.

Urine voided freshly is transparent and warm but in time as the temperature cools down it can appear cloudy owing to the precipitates of urates or phosphated depending on whether the urine is acid or alkali respectively. When normal urine is allowed to stand a deposit can usually form which can then be examined under the microscope. Deposits may be of such things like phosphate, urate, oxalate crystals, epithelial cells from the urinary tract, fibres from clothing or in the case of kidney disease red blood cells and casts can form.

In this practical we will be testing the urine samples for the presence of abnormal constituents, such as the presence of protein, glucose, ketones, blood and bilirubin.

Methods

We have been given five pairs of sample tubes each containing urine. Each urine sample comes from an individual female subject and has been obtained via a ‘clean-catch’ midstream collection method.

 To obtain a clean catch sample the women subjects must first clean the area around their genitals with medicated wipes or swabs. The subject should then begin to urinate for a few seconds, using the container provided place the container mid stream into the flow of the urine and collect about 1-2 ounces of urine and then remove the container from the urine steam. When the container is placed to interrupt the flow of urine, care should be taken to avoid contamination by ensuring that the container does not touch the genital area. The container with the collected urine should then be returned to the lab for analysis.

The five pairs of urine samples have been collected so that one sample has been obtained from a single individual patient therefore a total of ten women subjects have been used  to obtain the full set of urine samples for this practical. The five pairs of urine samples will be tested for the following abnormal components;

 Detailed instructions for using the different types of test kits are outlined below;

Albustix-immerse the albustix in the sample provided and withdraw immediately wiping off the excess urine along the side of the container as you do this. Place the strip horizontally and time for 60 seconds. After this time compare the colour of the test strip with the colour code on the container. Record the result down.

Diastix-immerse the diastix in the sample and withdraw it immediately wiping off the excess fluid along the side of the container as you do this. Hold the strip horizontally for 30 seconds and after this time compare the colour of the test strip with the colour chart on the container. Record the result down.

Ketostix- immerse the ketostix in the sample and withdraw immediately running the strip along the side of the conatainer to get rid of the excess fluid. Hold the strip horizontally and after 60 seconds compare the colour of the strip with the colour chart on the bottle, record your result down.

Hemastix-immerse the hemastix in the sample and withdraw it immediately running the strip along the side of the container to get rid of the excess fluid. Compare the colour of the strip to the colour chart and record your result down.

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Ictotest-place 10 drops of the urine sample onto the filter paper provided, transfer one tablet onto the centre of the moistened area using forceps. The tablet must not be handled at all. Using a pipette place one drop of water onto the tablet, wait five seconds and then place another second drop. Look at the colour on the tablet and compare this with the colour chart supplied. Record the result for each sample down.

It must be noted that any colour changes with each test seen after the time allocated are of no diagnostic value and must be ...

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