Clinical Significance of Urinalysis Components

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to urinalysis and its clinical significance.

Acid-base disorders

A disruption in the balance of acids and bases in the body, which can lead to conditions such as renal tubular acidosis.

Double indicator system

A method used in urinalysis that utilizes two indicators (methyl red and bromothymol blue) to assess pH.

Urobilinogen

A substance produced from the breakdown of bilirubin, normally present in small amounts in urine.

Ehrlich reaction

A chemical reaction used to detect urobilinogen in urine by using p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde.

Nitrite

A byproduct of nitrate reduction by bacteria, often used as a marker for urinary tract infections.

Griess reaction

A chemical reaction that indicates the presence of nitrites in urine, where nitrite is converted to a diazonium compound.

Leukocyte esterase

An enzyme produced by white blood cells, used to detect the presence of WBCs in urine.

Cystitis

An inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by a urinary tract infection.

Pyelonephritis

An infection of the kidney that often develops from infections in the bladder.

False negative

A test result that indicates a substance is absent when it is actually present, such as in cases of non-nitrate-reducing bacteria.

False positive

A test result that indicates a substance is present when it is not, such as with old specimens causing false positives for nitrites.