Chapter 04 - PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF URINE

PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION
OF URINE
CHAPTER 4

,INTRODUCTION

• Physical examination of urine includes:
• Color
• Clarity
• Specific gravity

• Results provide:
• Preliminary information
• Correlation with other chemical and microscopic results

,COLOR

• Ranges from colorless to black
• Normal variations caused by:
• Physical activity
• Ingested materials
• Metabolic functions

• Abnormal variations caused by:
• Bleeding
• Liver disease
• Infection

, NORMAL URINE COLOR

• Common terminology:
• Pale yellow, yellow, dark yellow, amber
• Should be consistent within institution
• Urochrome is pigment causing yellow color
• Normally excreted at a constant rate
• Increased in thyroid disorders and fasting
• Increases when specimen sits at room temperature
• Provides estimate of body hydration
• Pale yellow to dark yellow can be normal