As a patient with a chronic illness your doctor will collect many tests from you. One of them is a urine (pee) test. It is painless but peeing in the cup can be a bit awkward. Some questions that may go through your mind are: “Why is the doctor running this test?” and “What information are they getting from this test?” According to Webmd.com a urine test is done “to check for a disease or infection of the urinary tract…and to check the treatment of conditions such as diabetes, kidney stones, and a urinary tract infection (UTI), high blood pressure (hypertension), or some kidney or liver diseases.” The doctor may not think you have any of the physical issues listed above but may order the test as a part of routine lab work just to be sure there is nothing ‘brewing. It is important to note that each lab has a ‘normal range.’ This range will vary from lab to lab. When reading labs look at the range for that lab. These ranges will be listed next to your values. There are 10 common lab tests. They will be listed below with a short explanation.
Specific Gravity (SG)
There is not a normal or abnormal value for this test. Rather, it just lets the health care provider know how concentrated the urine is. SG ranges from 1.000- 1.035. 1.000 have a very concentration and 1.035 being more highly concentrated. This is important to your healthcare provider because if they are looking for something like protein in the urine (commonly found with kidney issues in lupus patients) a concentrated sample would give them the best sample.
pH
A pH is measured on a scale from 0-14. In urine your normal lab values will vary between 4.5-8.0 (I’ve seen lab values that go up to 9.0). A value of 4.5 means that the urine is more acidic and a 9.0 would mean that the urine is very alkaline. It is important to note that these values will vary based on the time of day. The pH is important because the kidneys help maintain the body’s acid-base balance (pH). When the body’s pH is out of balance it is often a reflection of disease. The kidney’s are a powerful way for the body to maintain homeostasis (bodily equilibrium)(www.boundless.com).
Protein
Protein is usually not in the urine. This type of protein is also called albumin. Albumin is a protein that is made in the liver and is used for growth, tissue repair and to remove excess fluid from the blood (http://bja.oxfordjournals.org). When protein shows up in urine consistently it may indicate that the kidneys are not working at an optimal level.
Glucose
Glucose (a sugar molecule) is normally not found in urine. “When glucose is present, the condition is called glycosuria”(www.labtestsonline.org). When the body can’t handle glucose properly it can get leaked into the urine.
Ketones
Ketones are generally not found in urine. They can occur when a person isn’t eating enough carbohydrates or when carbohydrates aren’t being used properly (www.labtestsonline.org).
Blood (Hemoglobin)
Hemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen found inside red blood cells. The source cannot be identified when blood is found. For instance, your period can cause blood in urine as can hemorrhoids. Medications, smoking, and strenuous exercise can also cause hemoglobin to be in the urine (www.labtestsonline.org).
Leukocyte Esterase
Leukocyte esterase is an enzyme present in white blood cells. When this presents in urine it is an indication that there is inflammation in the urinary tract. Usually this indicates a kidney or bladder infection (www.labtestsonline.org).
Nitrite
Nitrite is a form of bacteria that is normally not present in urine. Its presence can indicate an urinary tract infection (UTI).
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a waste product from the liver that is a component of bile. Bile aids your body in digesting it’s food. It is not present in the urine of a healthy individual. It shows up in various forms of liver disease- often before other symptoms are present (www.labtestsonline.org).
Urobilinogen
Urobilinogen is normally present in small amounts in urine. It is a by-product of bilirubin. When levels are out of range it can indicate an issue with the liver.
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