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
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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