Urinalysis and Body Fluids Exam 1 Study Guide

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the fundamentals of quality assurance, sample collection, preservation, physical examination, and concentration measurements in urinalysis.

Quality Assurance (QA)

A broad system including laboratory procedures and the technologist's contributions to ensure the accuracy and reliability of patient testing results.

Quality Control (QC)

The specific process of testing materials with known values, performed at a minimum number of levels, to verify instrument and reagent performance.

Qualitative

A type of test result that describes a quality or characteristic (e.g., positive or negative) rather than a numerical amount.

Quantitative

A type of test result that provides a specific numerical value representing the amount of a substance present.

First Morning Sample

A urine specimen collected immediately upon waking; it is highly concentrated and used to detect substances that may not be found in more dilute random samples.

Random Urine Sample

A urine specimen collected at any time without special preparation, often used for routine screening.

Catheterized Urine Sample

A specimen collected under sterile conditions via a tube inserted into the bladder, containing unique entities compared to other collection methods.

Effect of No Preservation on Glucose

Without preservation, glucose levels in the urine will decrease over time due to bacterial glycolysis.

Effect of No Preservation on pH

Without preservation, the pH of urine typically increases due to the breakdown of urea into ammonia by bacteria.

Urine Refrigeration

A preservation method used to maintain sample integrity; the urine must be returned to room temperature before performing chemical testing.

Urochrome

The pigment that gives urine its normal yellow color.

Pyridium (Azo meds)

A non-pathological medication that causes urine to turn orange or orange-brown.

Bilirubin

A pathological reason for orange/orange-brown urine which may also produce orange foam when the sample is shaken.

Pseudomonas Infection

A pathological condition that can cause urine to appear green.

Porphyrias

A group of pathological conditions that cause urine to appear port red (burgundy or wine colored).

Melanins

Substances associated with melanoma that cause urine to appear brown-black.

Alkoptonuria

A pathological condition involving homogentisic acid that causes urine to turn black upon standing.

Protein Foam

A white foam that appears on the surface of urine, indicating the presence of protein.

Refractometer Calibration

A process involving specific solutions used for quality control to ensure accurate specific gravity measurements.

Colligative Properties

Physical properties of solutions, such as osmotic pressure and freezing point, that depend on the number of solute particles present.

Osmometry

A measurement of concentration based on the number of particles in a solution, which can result in abnormally high or low values depending on clinical conditions.