Of course, many of us have had a urine test at some point in our lives. After all, even a child knows that the results of the study help to identify certain diseases or control their condition. Therefore, urine is an important "tool" for the clinical diagnosis of human he alth.
However, the information obtained from the analysis may depend on how the material was collected. What types of urine tests and their characteristics exist, we will consider in this article. In addition, we will find out how to properly collect and transport material for research.
What is it for?
First of all, let's determine why you need to take urine for analysis to the laboratory:
- To check for diseases or urinary tract infections. Symptoms in this case can be very different: bad smell of urine, pain when urinating, blood impurities, pain in the side and others.
- To control various diseases such as diabetes, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, high blood pressureor certain kidney and liver diseases.
- For regular physical examination, a urinalysis is also done, the types of which are determined by the doctor.
How to prepare?
- Before you pass urine for analysis, you should not eat foods that can color it. Namely: blackberries, beets, rhubarb and others.
- Do not do heavy training before the study.
- It is important for women to tell their doctor about their menstrual cycles. If necessary, the specialist will postpone the urine test for several days. The types and methods of conducting such a study are assigned individually.
- Your doctor may also ask you not to take medicines that affect the color of your urine (usually B vitamins, Rifampicin and Phenytoin) for a while.
- If you are taking diuretics, be sure to tell your doctor. Because they can significantly affect research results.
Now let's take a closer look at how urine is analyzed, what types and methods of collection are.
Quick test
The fastest way to check urine is a rapid test. It is carried out as part of routine examinations (in the family doctor's office or upon admission to the hospital) or when patients have pain in the abdomen, stomach or back. Such an analysis can be done using a special strip with small colored fields, which must be immersed in a vessel for a few seconds. Then the doctor compares the color of the urine with the color of the fields and determines its condition. Only a specialist can determinewhat concentration of fluid indicates its deviation from the norm.
This test will help identify the following problems:
- high protein levels, which is a sign of nephritis (kidney inflammation);
- detection of sugar and ketone in the urine is a sign of high blood sugar;
- leukocytes and nitrites indicate a bacterial infection.
It is important to note that this analysis is not always reliable, so it is best to test in a laboratory.
Clinical (general) study
This type of analysis is part of a routine examination or performed before admission to the hospital. It is mainly used to find the cause of diseases of the liver, kidneys, urinary tract infections and bleeding in the urinary system. It can also be used to check for an incorrect rapid test result. A complete analysis is carried out in the laboratory, as a rule, in 3 stages:
- Assessing the color and concentration of urine (physical indicators).
- Study of the chemical composition of the fluid, which includes several additional tests for pH, protein, glucose, ketones, blood, bilirubin, nitrite, urobilinogen and leukocyte esterase.
- Specialists diagnose types of urine tests for bacteria under a microscope.
The results of the conducted research also help to identify the following problems:
- high blood cholesterol;
- identification of urinary reflux will indicate the development of kidney disease;
- Also, quantitative urine tests can be performed to help diagnose a variety of specific disorders such as endocrine disorders, bladder cancer, osteoporosis, and porphyria (a group of disorders caused by chemical imbalances).
If the doctor revealed any abnormalities during a clinical study, then he recommends the patient such types of urine tests for infections: Nechiporenko analysis and Zimnitsky analysis.
Analysis by Nechiporenko
This is a laboratory test to determine the content of white blood cells, erythrocytes and cylinders in 1 ml of urine to assess the condition of the urinary tract and kidneys. This type of analysis is prescribed for the following indications:
- occult hematuria (blood in the urine);
- monitoring the effectiveness of treatment;
- hidden inflammation in the kidneys and urinary tract.
The Nechiporenko analysis is more specific than other types of urine tests. How to collect material, consider below:
- the day before you should refrain from drinking alcohol, vegetables and fruits that change the color of urine;
- before the collection, you need to purchase hygiene procedures;
- no more than 20-30 ml of morning urine should be collected in a prepared clean and dry container;
- it must be brought to the laboratory within 2 hours.
Normal readings:
- leukocytes - 2000 in 1 ml of urine;
- erythrocytes – 1000;
- cylinders – 20.
Urine analysis according to Zimnitsky
This type of research is unique. It helps to assess the condition of the kidneys and to identify the insufficiency of these organs at an early stage, as well as to monitor the dynamics of the course of the disease.
Indications for this type of study:
- chronic glomerulonephritis;
- diabetes;
- signs of kidney failure;
- hypertensive heart disease;
- chronic pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation).
Of course, urine tests, types, methods of collection are different for each diagnosis. It is necessary to collect material for research on Zimnitsky very carefully. You must prepare eight clean jars and label each one with the number of urinations (1, 2, 3, and so on). It is necessary to start collecting at 6.00 in the morning, and then every three hours. Remember that it is strictly forbidden to drain urine into one container. Refrigerate containers prior to transport to the laboratory. Try to keep your usual routine and diet on this day. Do not forget about hygiene rules so that harmful bacteria and microbes do not get into the jars.
Research results when abnormal:
- reducing the relative density of urine per serving (below 1020 g/l) indicates renal and heart failure, exacerbation of pyelonephritis;
- high density (above 1035 g/l) can occur with accelerated breakdown of red blood cells, chronic or acuteglomerulonephritis, as well as diabetes.
Analysis according to Kakovsky-Addis. Ambourge method
As a rule, these types of urine tests are performed in children, since they are convenient to use even for babies under 3 years old. It is prescribed to patients upon detection of deviations from the norm in the general test, if there are suspicions of the appearance of diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, as well as for detailed control over the course of an already identified disease.
Research results help to identify the occurrence of inflammatory processes (cystitis, glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis), as well as monitor the functioning of the kidneys and urinary tract.
Collect material for analysis in two ways:
- within 12 hours;
- throughout the day.
What is seeding?
What else is a urine test? The types and methods of research are discussed in detail in our article. Sowing is done to see if there are germs or harmful bacteria, as well as to determine their type.
In the laboratory, a jar of urine is placed in a container. Then small plates with growth medium for microorganisms are placed in the sample and tightly closed. Next, the container is placed in an incubator for 2 days. If there are fungi or bacteria in the urine, they will visibly grow during this time.
If microbes are found during the study, the patient is given the type of antibiotics needed to fight them.
Urine analysis according to Sulkovich
This type of study is used as a screening test forearly diagnosis of endocrine diseases and disorders of calcium metabolism. To obtain more accurate results, doctors recommend not eating dairy and meat products, fruits and vegetables, and not drinking tea and coffee before the analysis. Try to include only water-cooked cereals in your diet.
Before collecting urine, follow these guidelines:
- no food for 8 hours, children for 6 hours;
- keep your genitals clean so that germs do not get into the urine sample;
- material should be collected in a sterile container and taken to the hospital.
In the laboratory, experts will add the Sulkovich reagent to the urine, which will help determine the amount of calcium and bilirubin.
Daily analysis
This test consists of collecting urine during the day in the following sequence:
- first sample after waking is not used, but voiding time is noted;
- after that, each drop of material is collected in a jar;
- when you empty your bladder within 24 hours, you need to take a special container from the doctor, in which a substance has already been placed to prevent the growth of bacteria, and pour all the collected liquid into it;
- Store the jar in the refrigerator while harvesting.
Diagnostic results show how much of certain substances (such as proteins, hormones, s alts and other metabolic products) are excreted from the body. If experts find too little metabolic creatinine in the urine, then there is a suspicion ofdecrease in kidney function. High protein levels can be caused by heart failure, diabetes, urinary tract infection, kidney disease. Some endocrine disorders increase the amount of hormones and their metabolic products in the urine.
Pregnancy test
Of course, they do these types of urine tests on women. If your menstrual cycle does not start, tests can be used to check if you are pregnant. Most studies can determine this as early as the tenth day of conception. However, they are not always reliable. You can buy tests at any pharmacy.
Perform these types of urine tests during pregnancy, usually in the morning, after waking up. You will find exact instructions in the leaflet. After urinating, collect a small amount of morning urine in a container and dip the test stick into it for a few seconds. After five minutes it will show if you are pregnant or not.
It is important to note that test results can sometimes be false. This happens when a woman does it too early, takes specific medications, or drinks too much liquid before the test. Only a doctor can tell you for sure whether you are pregnant or not.
Types of urine tests for children
Doctors may order a urine test for a child for various reasons. As a rule, these are preventive goals, the occurrence of deviations in the general analysis of urine or the control of an already detected disease.
Consider the main types of urine tests inchildren:
- General (clinical) urine test.
- Nechiporenko test.
- Analysis according to Zimnitsky.
- Diagnostics according to Kakovsky-Addis.
- Ambourge method.
- Sulkovich test.
- Bacteriological culture of urine.
- Rehberg test.
Types of urine tests during pregnancy
From the moment a pregnant woman is registered with a gynecologist, she will be advised to take a general urine test throughout the entire period of gestation. If any abnormalities are found in this study, the doctor will advise you to conduct a urine test according to Nechiporenko or Zimnitsky, as well as bacteriological studies to detect infections.
Such control will help the specialist assess the condition of the bladder, determine kidney disease, the appearance of diabetes and gestational diabetes, which can develop at the twentieth week of pregnancy. A high protein level will indicate inflammation of the urinary tract. Elevated levels of ketones indicate that a woman's body is dehydrated. It is not recommended for pregnant women to conduct a urine test on their own. All actions should be discussed with the doctor.
Conclusion
Summing up, we can draw conclusions:
- urinalysis, types and methods of collection are completely different, and they should be carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor;
- some tests you can do yourself, such as a rapid test and a pregnancy test;
- other types of diagnosis are carried out exclusively inlaboratories to detect any abnormalities;
- to reduce the chances of bacteria contaminating your urine, maintain good hygiene.
