Urinalysis: looking into the void

This article written from the Food and Drug Administration is about Urinalysis: advances in the field of diagnostic. It contains information on the different test subjected in a urine examination. Urinalysis dates back to ancient China. A physician during those days spills urine on the ground and wait to see if ants gather around the urine. A gathering of ants will indicate that the person suffers from diabetes. Even Hippocrates had made use of urinalysis by associating kidney disease with that of foamy urine.

Through the advances in modern science urinalysis has become more precise and systematic. From the use of high power microscope visual inspection can be done by a physician. And through the use of a chemical dipstick it can check for pH, protein and other elements in the body.

In urinalysis different tests are used to check for abnormalities in the body. This includes the following test: Visual Inspection.This is by evaluating color and appearance of the urine. Visual inspection also includes odor check. Normal urine may appear in any of the following color: Pale to dark yellow, clear to slight cloudy transparency. It will emit a faintly pungent odor. The article then enumerates signs of abnormalities which may mean kidney failure or just a harmless sign of what one has eaten lately.

Urine Specific Gravity. In a urine specific gravity, the weight of urine is compared with the weight of distilled water equal in volume. Specific gravity increases in proportion to the concentration of substances in the urine. Another type of measurement is by comparing of the velocity of light in urine to that in a vacuum. An instrument called a refractometer is used for this test. Other automated specific gravity tests are also available including the dipstick test which connected to a computer can print the result. Urinary pH measures the degree of acidity or alkalinity in urine. Normal urine will have a pH range from: 5 to 7 pH units. Substance Abnormal in Urine.

The detection of glucose, protein, bilirubin, ketones or blood in urine should be below measurable levels. Microscopic examination through the use of high power microscope. A range through a high power microscope will have a normal range of: 0 to 2 or 3 for red blood cells, 4 to 5 white blood cells, and occasional glassy looking cast. With the use of a high power microscope conditions such as bleeding, clotting disorder and collagen tissue disorders among others can be seen clearly.

In summary urinalysis include a weight comparison or urine specific gravity and a microscopic examination in of small particles called urinary sediment which can all be done in a physician’s office if the equipments are available or can be easily sent to a laboratory. Also it should be noted that other factors may affect the outcome of the result which may indicate abnormalities or show symptoms of a disease but may be due to factors. A person in a vegetarian diet will show sign high traces of alkaline in the urine. Further testing is then advised to confirm result. Read more on this subject