Urinalysis Lab
How do organic molecules affect your body?
Name:_________________________________________________Date:__________________________ Class:___________________
Purpose
Analyze and interpret data on the body’s utilization of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.
Introduction
A urinalysis is simply an analysis of a urine sample. It is a very common test that can be performed in many
healthcare settings including doctors' offices, urgent care facilities, laboratories, and hospitals. Urine can be
evaluated multiple ways, including its physical appearance (color, cloudiness, odor, clarity) as well as its
chemical/molecular properties.
Pre-lab questions
1. Complete the following table using resources provided:
Biological
Elements
Macromolecule
Ratio
Carbohydrate
CHO
1:2:1
CHO
Lipids
1:2:very
few
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
CHON
No ratio
CHONP
No ratio
Function
Monomer
Examples
Functional
Group(s)
2. What is urinalysis?
3. Define each term as it relates to a urinalysis:
a. pH –
b. Ketone –
c. Specific gravity –
d. Clarity –
e. Nitrites –
f.
Leukocytes –
g. Urobilinogen –
h. Bilirubin –
4. What is the role of a control urine sample?
task
You are a Peace Corps volunteer doctor. While doing your volunteer work, you decide to learn all about the
different tests that can be performed on urine and what the results mean. Patients come to you complaining of
various symptoms. Using your knowledge of how to analyze urine samples, you will determine if the patients have
a deficiency or excess of biomolecules using the materials provided.
Materials

Patient urine samples

Test strips
Procedure
Part A – Clarity Test
1. Visually examine the urine sample. Note their physical appearance and clarity and record the results in
Table 1.
Part B – Chemical Diagnostic Test using a Test Strip
2. Remove the strip from the closed canister and use it as soon as possible. Immediately close the canister
tightly after removing the required number of strip(s). Completely immerse the reagent areas of the strip in
fresh, well-mixed urine and immediately remove the strip to avoid dissolving the reagents. See illustration
1 below.
3.
While removing the strip from the urine, run the edge of the strip against the rim of the urine container to
remove excess urine. Hold the strip in a horizontal position and bring the edge of the strip into contact with
an absorbent material (e.g. a paper towel) to avoid mixing chemicals from adjacent reagent areas and/or
soiling hands with urine. See illustration 2 below.
4. Compare the reagent areas to the corresponding color blocks on the color chart at the specified times. Hold
the strip close to the color blocks and match carefully. See illustration 3 below.
Note: Results may be read up to 2 minutes after the specified times.
5. Record all observations in Table 1. Use the chemical test interpretation guide to infer gathered results.
Data/Observations
Table 1. Urinalysis Chemical Test Results
Urine
Glucose
Bilirubin
Ketones
Specific
Gravity
Blood
pH
Protein
Urobilinogen
Nitrites
Leukocytes
Urine
Sample
Clarity
Urine Chemical Tests
1
2
3
4
Table Notes: Aside from the clarity, the columns are set up exactly how the urine test strip is set up. Pay careful
attention to values and what column you are putting these values into.
Analysis Questions:
1. Identify the disorders (if any) associated with the following urine samples and justify your claim with
evidence from Table 1:
a. Urine Sample 1:
b. Urine Sample 2:
c. Urine Sample 3:
d. Urine Sample 4:
Based on your findings and prior knowledge, answer the following:
2. Explain the presence of glucose in urine for someone with diabetes.
3. Hypothesize how blood pH would be affected in Kwashiorkor and Diabetes.
4. In the past doctors would taste urine to diagnose diabetes. Predict what the urine would taste like, and
explain why you think this is no longer done.
5. Why do both excess nutrients and nutrient deficiencies show up in urine?
Extension
How would (if at all) the results of a urinalysis change given the following scenarios:
a. Eating a large meal:
b. Dietary supplements:
c. Fasting for 12 hours:
Urinalysis Chemical Testing Interpretation Guide
Leukocytes: Leukocytes in the urine typically indicate a past or current infection in the urinary tract.
Nitrites: Bacteria that cause a urinary tract infection (UTI) make an enzyme that changes urinary nitrates to
nitrites. Nitrites in urine show a UTI is present.
Urobilinogen: Negative or low test results may indicate there is a failure of bile production or liver dysfunction.
Positive (elevated) test results may be due to liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis or liver metastases or
liver infarction, as well as conditions associated with hemolytic anemia (extraordinary red blood cell destruction).
Moreover, high test levels may indicate an overburdening of the liver or poisoning.
Protein: Finding protein in the urine is not a normal finding. Seriously elevated levels may indicate that there is a
problem with kidney function.
pH: This test looks at the acid level in the urine. Significantly high or low values may indicate an issue with the
kidneys.
Blood: The presence of blood in the urine is an abnormal finding. However, it is not possible to determine the
cause of the bleeding without further testing. Common causes include infection, trauma, kidney stones, cancer,
surgery on an area of the urinary tract, kidney disease, trauma related to the insertion of a urinary catheter, and
many other causes.
Specific Gravity: This portion of the test determines how concentrated the urine is. If the patient is dehydrated,
for example, the specific gravity will be high. If the person is very well-hydrated, a lower result is expected.
Diabetes insipidus, a condition where the body excretes large amounts of urine, will result in a very low specific
gravity.
Ketones: Finding ketones in the urine is not a normal finding. Typically, diabetes is the cause of ketones in the
urine. The finding of ketones will typically result in testing for diabetes, or it may indicate a need for better glucose
control in a diabetic patient.
Bilirubin: This test may be done in order to study the possibility of liver and/or gallbladder problems. A normal
result is negative. Positive results are a possible early indicator of liver disease and stem from such things as
gallstones in the biliary tract, hepatitis, an injury resulting from surgery that affects the biliary tract, liver tumors,
gallbladder tumors, biliary strictures, and cirrhosis.
Glucose: Finding glucose in the urine is not a normal finding. Typically, this is found in patients with diabetes.
http://surgery.about.com/od/beforesurgery/a/Interpreting-Urinalysis-Results-Normal-Urine-Results.htm
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/urine-test