Chapter 16

List two factors that may cause a urine specimen to become cloudy

standing out too long, presence of bacteria, pus, blood, fat, yeast, sperm, mucous threads, or fecal contamination

What is the urinary meatus

the external opening of the urethra

List two reasons for performing a urine culture test

to assist in diagnosis of a UTI and the assessment of the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy for a patient with a UTI.

List two functions of the urinary system

to regulate the fluid and electrolyte balance of the body and to remove waste products

What is the function of the urinary bladder

to store and expel urine

A 24 hour urine specimen is often used to diagnose what condition

used in the diagnosis of the cause of kidney stone formation and in the control and prevention of new stone formation. and to perform a creatinine clearance test

Most of the urine (95%) is composed of what substance

water

List five guidelines that should be followed when performing a pregnancy test

1. The preferred specimen for a urine pregnancy test is a first void morning specimen because it contains the highest concentration of HCG; however a random urine specimen can also be used. 2. The specific gravity of the urine specimen should be determined before the test is performed. A specific gravity of less than 1.007 is considered too dilute for pregnancy testing because it may lead to a false negative test result. 3. The urine pregnancy testing kit should be stored according to the information in the product insert. Most testing kits are stored at room temperature between 59-86

What is the normal range for the specific gravity of urine

1.003-1.030, but is usually between 1.010-1.025

continued.....

4. Most urine pregnancy testing kits include a built in internal control to evaluate whether certain aspects of the testing procedure are working properly 5. It is recommended that a positive and a negative external control be performed with each new lot of shipment of urine pregnancy testing kits. and then monthly thereafter.

Micturition

Act of voiding urine

Ketosis

An accumulation of large amounts of ketone bodies in the tissue and body fluids

List three changes that may take place in a urine specimen if it is allowed to stand at room temperature for more than 1 hour

Bacteria in the environment that get into the urine specimen work on the urea present in the urine, converting it to ammonia. Bacteria multiply rapidly in the urine, resulting in a cloudy specimen and an increase in the nitrite. If glucose is present in the specimen, it decrease in amount because microorganisms use the glucose as a source of food. If any red or white bood cells are present, they may break down. Cast decompose after several hours.

Why is a first voided urine specimen recommended for a microscopic examination of the urine

Because it is more concentrated and contains more dissolved substances; small amount of abnormal substances are more likely to be detected

Hematuria

Blood present in the urine

What is the name of the vaginal infection caused by yeast

Candidiasis

What effect does concentrated urine have on red blood cells in it

Causes the red blood cells to become shrunken or crenated

What type of urine specimen is required for the detection of a urinary tract infection (UTI)

Clean catch midstream specimen

List two conditions that may cause oliguria

Decreased fluid intake, dehydration, profuse perspiration, vomiting, diarrhea, or kidney disease

Oliguria

Decreased or scant output of urine

Dysuria

Difficult or painful urination

Nocturia

Excessive (voluntary) urination during the night

Anuria

Failure of the kidney to produce urine

What is the purpose of performing a microscopic examination of the urine

Helps clarify results of the physical and chemical examination

What is the name of the hormone that is present in the urine and blood only of a pregnant woman

Human chorionic gonadotropin

What may cause an increase in the pH of urine

If the urine is allowed to remain standing

How does the function of the urethra differ in the male and female

In males, the urethra functions in transporting urine and reproductive secretions. In females, the urethra functions in urination only

Nocturnal enuresis

Inability of an individual to control urination at night during sleep (bedwetting)

Polyuria

Increased output of urine

What is the purpose of testing the specific gravity of urine

Measures the weight of the urine compared with the weight of an equal volume

How should urine reagent strips be stored

Must be stored in a cool, dry area away form direct sunlight, with the cap tightly closed to maintain reactivity of the reagent

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative test results

Qualitative test results indicate whether a substance is present in the urine and also provide an approximate indication of the amount of the substance present. Quantitative test results indicate the exact amount of a chemical substance that is present in the body; the results are reported in measurable units

Frequency

The condition of having to urinate often

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney

Void

To empty the bladder

Urgency

The immediate need to urinate

Retention

The inability to empty the bladder; urine is being produced normally but is not being voided

Urinary incontinence

The inability to retain urine

Urinalysis

The physical, chemical, and microscopic analysis of urine

List three reasons for performing a pregnancy test

The physician may desire an earlier diagnosis however, with a pregnancy test to initiate early prenatal care, also necessary before certain medications are ordered or procedures are performed that may cause injury to a fetus

Bilirubinuria

The presence of bilirubin in the urine

Glycosuria

The presence of glucose in the urine

Ketonuria

The presence of ketone bodies in the urine

Proteinuria

The presence of protein in the urine

Pyuria

The presence of pus in the urine

Why should a patient not void directly into a 24 hour urine specimen container that contains a preservative

The preservative could splash onto the patient's skin, resulting in a chemical burn

pH

The unit that describes the acidity or alkalinity of a solution

Specific gravity

The weight of a substance compared with the weight of an equal volume of a substance known as the standard

A urine specimen that has been allowed to stand at room temperature for a long period of time will have what type of odor

an ammonia odor

Why should a nitrite test not be performed on a urine specimen that has been left standing at room temperature

because a false positive result may occur form bacterial contamination from the environment

Why is a first voided morning specimen often preferred for urine testing

because it contains the greatest concentration of dissolved substances, and a small amount of an abnormal substance that is present would be more easily detected

Why does concentrated urine tend to be dark yellow

consumption of fluids is decrease during the night

What is a urinary cast

cylindrical structures formed in the lumen of the tubules that make up the nephron

List two conditions that may cause polyuria

excessive intake of fluids or the intake of fluids that contain caffeine. Certain drugs, such as diuretics, and the pathologic conditions of diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, and renal disease