Testing Urine with a Urine Reagent Strip
PP6
Specimen Containers
• Variety available• Most are clear, calibrated in mL and
disposable• Have secure lid • nonsterile or sterile• Must be labeled with pt. name, date, time
of collection and test ordered.
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Urine Tests
• Used to determine the physical condition of a pt
• Abnormal –often 1st indicator of disease process
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Urinalysis
• An examination of urine • Should be fresh and warm • Examine within 1 hr from collection
– Three areas of testing• Physical• Chemical• Microscopic
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Physical testing
• Usually done 1st
• Consists of observing and recording color, odor, transparency and specific gravity
• Specific Gravity 1.005 -1.030
• Specimen should be fresh and mixed gently prior to being checked
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Chemical testing
• Urine reagent strips• Used to check pH, glucose, albumin
(protein), acetones, ketones, blood, white blood cells, red blood cells, bilirubin, urobilinogen
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Microscopic Testing
• Done to examine formed elements in the urine by using a centrifuge
• Sediment is the examined under a microscope
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Using Reagent Strips to Test Urine
• Dipstick test• Many types available, all work on same basic
principles• Firm, plastic strips that have smallpads
containing chemical reactants• Each pad reacts to a specific substance• If substance is present pad will change color
and some indicate measurement of amount
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Using Reagent Strips to Test Urine
• Sensitive to heat, light and moisture• Must be stored in a dry, cool, dark area• Must be closed immediately after use• Do not touch pads on strips- may cause
inaccurate results or skin injury• Have expiration date
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Urine pH• A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of
urine• Neutral pH is 7• <7 indicates acidic urine• >7 indicates alkaline urine• Usually acidic with pH of 5.5 -8.0• Diet, meds, renal disease, starvation and
diabetes effect pH
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Protein
• Retained in the blood• Not normally found in urine (proteinuria)• May be indicative of kidney disease
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Glucose
• Not normally found in urine• If blood sugar is high, will be excreted in
urine (glycosuria)• Indicative of diabetes
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Ketones and acetones
• End products of the metabolism of fat in the body (ketonuria)
• Not normally found in urine • Indicative of diabetes, starvation, fasting,
dieting, high-fat diet, metabolic disorders
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Blood• Not normally found in urine• Normal if menstruating• Indicative of injury, infection, renal disease
or UTI (hematuria)
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Bilirubin
• Breakdown product of hemoglobin on RBCs – usually eliminated through the intestines (bilirubinuria)
• Not normally found in urine• Indicative of liver disease
– Hepatitis– Bile duct obstruction
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Urobilinogen
• Bilirubin that has been converted by intestinal bacteria – usually excreted by intestines
• Small amounts 0.1-1.0 (EU) Ehrlich units/dL is normal
• Large amounts are indicative of heart, spleen, liver or hemolytic disease
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Phenylalanine (Phe)
• An amino acid (protein) excreted in urine when not metabolized by the body
• Indicative of PKU (phenylketonuria)– Congenital disease which causes mental
retardation if not detected early– best tx for PKU is a diet of low-protein foods
• Most states require PKU blood/urine test for all newborns
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Testing Urine with a Urine Reagent Strip
• Read instructions carefully when using any type of reagent strip
• Color comparison chart is located on bottle• Clarify time performed and read• Use adequate light• Perform quality control checks
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