Urinalysis

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A urinalysis (or "UA") is an array of tests performed on urine and one of the most common methods of medical diagnosis. A part of a urinalysis can be performed by using urine dipsticks, in which the test results can be read as color changes.

[edit] Medical urinalysis

A typical medical urinalysis usually includes:

• a description of color and appearance.
• specific gravity - normally 1.010 to 1.030. This test detects ion concentration of the urine. Small amounts of protein or ketoacidosis tend to elevate results of the specific gravity.
• pH - normally 4.8 to 7.5.
• ketone bodies - normally negative (absent)
• protein - normally negative (absent)
• urobilinogen
• bilirubin
• glucose - normally negative (absent)
• RBC number
• WBC number
• hCG - normally absent, this hormone appears in the urine of pregnant women. Home pregnancy tests commonly detect this substance.
• Pyroluria

[edit] Microscopic examination

A urine sample is about to be examined under a phase-contrast microscope using a Neubauer counting chamber. The urine is under the cover slide, in the upper segment formed by the H-shaped grooves.

The numbers and types of cells and/or material such as urinary casts can yield a great detail of information and may suggest a specific diagnosis.

• eosinophiluria - associated with allergic interstitial nephritis, atheroembolic disease
• RBC casts - associated with glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, malignant hypertension
• WBC casts - associated with acute interstitial nephritis, exudative glomerulonephritis, severe pyelonephritis
• (heme) granular casts - associated with acute tubular necrosis
• crystalluria -- associated with acute urate nephropathy (or "Acute uric acid nephropathy", AUAN)
• calcium oxalate - associated with ethylene glycol toxicity

[edit] See also

• uroscopy, the ancient form of this analysis
• Medical technologist

[edit] External links

• WebMD
• American Family Physician
• Interpreting urinalysis
• PediactricOnCall
• Lab Tests Online: Urinalysis