Urine Analysis (Urine R/M)

As the name sounds, the Urine Analysis is one of the commonly prescribed medical tests that is conducted to evaluate different parameters from the patient for the signs of common conditions and diseases and is also called as Urine Routine and Microscopy (Urine R/M), as the scrutiny is carried out using a microscope. The Urine R/M test is one of the widely prescribed medical tests, and if you have been prescribed the same, then this write-up is a must know for you to get a clear idea regarding the need and the procedure to be performed.

Symptoms to Perform a Urine Analysis Test

When a doctor observes the following symptoms, they prescribe to go forward with the Urine R/M test.

Burning on urination
High frequency of urination
Presence of blood in the urine
Symptoms of urinary tract infection/ bladder infection
Symptoms of kidney failure
Continuous fever
Severe back pain
Edema or swelling
Loss of appetite
Nausea or vomiting
Itching, Twitching
Metallic taste in the mouth

What is the Purpose of a Urine R/M Analysis?

The prescribed Urine R/M test is conducted to monitor the following conditions:

Cancer
Kidney Disease
Urinary Tract Infection
Parasitic Infection
Viral Infection
Prostate Infection
Liver Disease
Yeast Infection
Reactions to Medicines

Apart from the points mentioned above, the Urine R/M test is conducted to analyze the following:

Checking the colour and odour of urine
To measure the level of dissolved solid substances
The acidity level of urine
Test protein, sugar, bilirubin and other substances
Blood level in the urine

Components of a Urine Analysis Test

The urine analysis is proceeded ahead to measure the different parts:

Ketone bodies: Ketones are metabolic end-products of fatty-acid metabolism, which are formed in the liver. The presence of ketone bodies can be found in urine once the fats are burned to extract energy.
RBCs: These are the Red Blood Cells that carry the oxygen and carbon dioxide through the bloodstream. The RBCs are also known as red corpuscles or erythrocytes.
Protein Level: It is an essential micronutrient that is essential to build muscle mass. They serve as the building blocks of the body tissue and also serves as the fuel source that provides energy density and carbohydrates.
Urobilinogen: Referred to as a bi-product of bilirubin production, the urobilinogen gets formed in the intestines due to the bacterial action caused by bilirubin.
Leucocytes: Also called the White Blood Cells (WBCs), these are the cells of the immune system that provokes the body to fight against infection.
Crystals: Presence of crystals in urine is called crystalluria, which indicates organ dysfunction or even the presence of urinary tract stones.
Epithelial Cell: These are the body cells that line the surfaces of your body, which are widely found on the skin, blood vessels, urinary tracts and organs.

The Sample Collection Process

To proceed with the urine analysis process, Mid-Stream Urine (not at the beginning and at the end) is collected in a sterile container. However, one must take care to clean the genitals before proceeding for the urine collection process. Once received, it needs to be refrigerated or kept at a cool place during the collection period.

Pre-Test or Precautions

No preparations are required for the test.

Interpretation of the Results

Once the test gets performed, the results get interpreted as follows:

Description	Reference Range	Interpretation
Colour	Colourless, dark yellow, pale	Stained by certain foods
	Red	Foods, Presence of Propofol, Chlorpromazine, Thioridazine, Ex-lax
	Orange	Vitamin C, Presence of Rifampin, phenazopyridine
	Green	Asparagus, Vitamin B, Methylene Blue, Propofol, Amitriptyline
	Blue	Presence of Methylene blue, Indomethacin, Amitriptyline, Triamterene, Cimetidine, Promethazine
	Purple	Bacteriuria in patients with urinary catheters
	Brown	Gilbert syndrome, Tyrosinemia, Hepatobiliary disease
	Black	Alkaptonuria, Malignant Melanoma
	White	Chyluria, Pyuria, Phosphate Crystals
Bacteria	Absent	No bacterial infection
Leukocyte	Absent	Positive, Presence of WBCs in urine
WBC	<5	Pyuria: WBC>10
Nitrite	Absent	Positive= presence of bacteria that reduce nitrate
RBC	<5	Hematuria common in infection
Epithelial Cells	<5	Good urine sample
pH	4.5-8	Above the range states high presence of urea-splitting organism (e.g. presence of Proteus Mirabilis)

Although this test needs no preparation, you need to make sure that your healthcare service provider is aware of the medicines and supplements that you have been consuming.

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