Urine Lab 1

VETERINARY LAB TECHNIQUES

URINALYSIS

LAB 1

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • Passing the final exam (urinalysis) is necessary to pass the course.

  • Students must pass both lab and lecture components to successfully complete the course.

  • The required passing grade is 60%.

  • Attendance at all lab sessions is crucial for success in the class.

CRITICAL ERRORS

  • Specific Gravity determination must be within 0.001.

  • Strict adherence to safety protocols is essential (e.g., wearing personal protective equipment).

  • Unsafe operation of laboratory equipment is prohibited.

  • Students committing a critical error during assessments will receive a zero grade.

EVALUATION PLAN

  • Two quizzes on urinalysis, each worth 5%.

  • Final Urinalysis Exam carries a weight of 15%.

  • Refer to the Topical Outline for specific Due Dates.

  • Overall lab mark constitutes 55% of the final grade.

  • Overall lecture mark accounts for 45% of the final grade.

TEXTBOOK

  • "Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, Seventh Edition" by Margi Sirois.

  • This is the same textbook used for Parasitology and Microbiology courses.

LAB CONDUCT & SAFETY

  1. Be punctual.

  2. Coats and backpacks are not allowed in the lab.

  3. Clean lab countertops and surfaces after use.

  4. Handle and care for microscopes properly.

URINALYSIS URINE COLLECTION

Methods of Collecting Urine Samples by RVTs:

  1. Bladder Expression

    • Not suitable for urine cultures.

    • Cannot be performed with obstructed bladders.

    • May provide distorted results (iatrogenic increases in RBCs and WBCs).

  2. Urinary Catheterization

    • Sedation might be necessary.

    • Sterility must be maintained during the procedure.

    • Suitable for urine cultures.

    • Possible increase in RBCs and epithelial cells.

  3. Cystocentesis

    • A sterile method that is preferred for urine culture.

    • Rarely requires sedation, but ultrasound guidance is an option.

    • May observe an increase in RBCs.

  4. Free Flow

    • Easiest method for dogs, mid-stream samples are best.

    • Difficult to collect in cats and unsuitable for urine cultures.

    • High risk of contamination.

STORAGE & HANDLING

  • Urine samples should be examined within 30 minutes to 1 hour to prevent degenerative changes.

  • If processing is delayed, refrigerate for up to 12 hours.

  • Use gloves when handling urine samples to ensure safety.

  • Containers must have a tight-fitting lid to prevent evaporation.

  • Samples should reach room temperature before examination, as crystals may form when cooled.

  • Adding 1 drop of formalin to every ounce of urine can preserve samples, but alters urine chemistry.

  • Morning samples are preferred due to higher concentration.

CHANGES DUE TO STORAGE

If urine is left at room temperature, the following changes may occur:

  1. Decreased glucose and bilirubin levels.

  2. Increased bacterial proliferation.

  3. Crystal formation from bladder or delayed processing.

  4. Breakdown of cells due to bacterial lysis.

  5. Increased pH levels.

  6. Alteration in specific gravity due to evaporation.

  7. Increased turbidity (cloudiness).

A COMPLETE URINALYSIS

A complete urinalysis consists of four parts:

  1. Physical examination of urine.

  2. Urine Specific Gravity (to assess concentration).

  3. Chemical evaluation of the urine.

  4. Urine sediment analysis.

URINE SPECIFIC GRAVITY

  • Measured using refractometers, which assess the refractive index of a urine sample.

  • Tips:

    • Should be taken prior to refrigeration.

    • Evaluate the supernatant after centrifugation if the urine is cloudy.

    • First morning samples provide the most accurate concentration analysis.

    • Refractometers are preferred over chemistry strips for more accurate results.

REFRACTOMETER CARE

  • Clean the prism cover with distilled water after each use and dry with a Kim wipe.

  • Calibrate the refractometer regularly with room temperature distilled water which should read at 1.000.

URINE SPECIFIC GRAVITY MEASUREMENT

  • If extremely concentrated, dilute urine 1:1 with distilled water and double the refractometer reading for the true specific gravity.

  • Refractometers calibrated for dogs and cats yield more accurate readings compared to human refractometers.

CHEMICAL EVALUATION

  • Assess the following:

    • pH (acidity/alkalinity)

    • Protein levels

    • Glucose levels

    • Ketones

    • Bilirubin

    • Urobilinogen (may not always be accurate)

    • Blood presence

    • Leukocytes (not always accurate, refer for microscopic evaluation)

    • Nitrites (insignificant/inaccurate)

REAGENT STRIPS

  • Store reagent strips in light-tight containers at room temperature with a tight-fitting lid.

  • Check expiration dates regularly.

  • Saturate each reagent pad with a pipette for easy-to-read results and adhere to specific time intervals.

HOMEWORK

Terminology

  • Students are expected to know terminology for the first lab quiz (Week 10) and understand terms to explain them to clients.

  • Frequent use of terms in class will aid in retention.

TERMINOLOGY

  • Micturition

  • Polyuria

  • Stranguria

  • Dysuria

  • Pollakiuria

  • Anuria

  • Nocturia

  • Oliguria

  • Pyuria

  • Glucosuria

  • Hematuria

  • Hemoglobinuria

  • Myoglobinuria

  • Proteinuria

  • Bacturia

  • Bilirubinuria

  • Pyelonephritis

  • Isosthenuria

  • Hypersthenuria

  • Hyposthenuria

  • Afferent

  • Efferent

  • Renal corpuscle

  • Nephron

  • Nephrotoxic

  • Ureter

  • Urethra

  • Cystitis

  • Cystoscopy

  • Urolith

  • Urolithiasis

  • Crystalluria

  • Cystocentesis

  • Hemolysis

  • Cystotomy