URINALYSIS MACROSCOPIC

Does this test have other names?
Macroscopic urine analysis, macroscopic examination of urine, Urinalysis Routine Macroscopic

What is macroscopic urinalysis?
A macroscopic urinalysis is the direct visualization method for observing urine, which includes the color of urine, clarity, quantity, cloudiness, etc. The ideal urine is generally light yellow, clear, and without any cloudiness. 
A number of reasons show the abnormalities in the color, cloudiness, and clarity of urine, such as

• Liver disease that results in tea or cola urine color
• Dehydration in the body leads to dark urine color
• Infection indicate by cloudy urine
• Bloody urine (hematuria – It is visible to the eye that predicts urinary tract infections, injuries, stones, etc.)
• Muscles breakdown show tea or orange-colored urine
• Certain medicines like phenazopyridine, pain reliever and an antiseptic of urine also lead to color change in urine

How to observe the appearance of urine by macroscopic urinalysis?

Your lab care uses a urine test strip to analyze the appearance of urine. It is a plastic strip that contains squares of different colors. These squares act as a unique component of the test to determine urinalysis. Then the whole strip dips into the sample of urine. Each individual square indicates the changes of color in the urine. It takes a few minutes time for the color changes. The test results may vary if the provider reads early or later when the strip is dipped. 
The specific abnormalities in the urine may judge by the change of color on each square. The reference values have already been written on the container of the urine test strip. It helps the provider to interpret the results. They will get the results by putting the container in front of the strip. Then the provider compares the change of color with the reference value. 

What are the substances that represent by squares on the dipstick?
The following are the substances that represent by squares on the dipstick method. 

• The acidity of the urine (shows pH levels).
• Glucose (sugar in the urine).
• Specific gravity (concentration of urine). 
• Leukocyte esterase (indicative of white blood cells in urine).
• Nitrite ((indicative of bacteria in urine).
• Protein in the urine, including albumin.
• Bilirubin (indicate liver disease or breakdown of red blood cell).
• Ketones in the urine (products of fat metabolism).
• Hemoglobin or blood in the urine (hematuria).
• Urobilinogen (possibility of liver disease).

Your healthcare provider takes information by observing their presence or absence when the color changes on the strip. After completing the dipstick strip test, your provider will note down the reading. The squares on the box are arranged in the same order in accordance with the time taken by them. It helps the provider to read the results in a timely manner and observe any color changes. They scan the strip from the shortest (glucose) to the longest (leukocytes). 

What do my test results mean?

The results of macroscopic urinalysis tests depend on the person’s age, gender, weight, medical history, and other factors. The range of the results may vary by the use of different labs. You can order the test at UmbrellaMD. You can understand the rest results by consulting with your doctor. 

What sample requires for the test?

Your provider will collect a urine sample for a macroscopic urinalysis. Your doctor tells you about which type of sample is needed. Two ways of getting the urine sample are 24-hour urine collection and a one-time urine collection. 
 

• 24-hour urine collection 

You will store all your urine samples in a specimen or a container that developed during the 24 hours. 
 

• One-time urine collection

 
It is a spot or random urine test. Your provider will ask you to conduct one urine sample at any time. You have to follow the instruction provided by your lab care about the type of sample you need. 

What happens during the test?

A microscopic urinalysis test can perform at home or at your healthcare provider’s location. The lab care will give you a specimen or a container. 

For 24-hour urine collection, you may recommend these steps, which include

• You will flash all your urine into the toilet on the first day as you get up in the morning.
• During the next 24 hours, you will collect all your urine into a sample container.
• When you get up on the second day, you will again urinate in the container. You will finally complete the urine sample within 24 hours.
• You will put your urine sample container in a refrigerator or a cool place.

For random or one-time urine collection, you will ask to collect a urine sample in the morning. For getting midstream urine, a clean-catch procedure applies that include 

• Clean the opening of your urethral.
• You first urinate in the toilet. After a few seconds, stop the stream of your urine.
• Put the container in front of your urine stream, and then start to urinate into the container.
• When the container fills up with urine, start urinating in the toilet
• Closed a lid of a sample
• Give the sample to your provider. 

How to prepare for the test?

You may not have to prepare for a macroscopic urinalysis test. You can eat and drink before this test. You can tell your doctor about specific medications or supplements that you are taking. You may need to follow the guidelines provided by your doctor about the clean-catch sample. If you are pregnant, you need to talk about it with your provider.

Is there any risk to the test?
The test does not have any risk to your health. 

Visit Umbrella Health Care Systems to get detailed information about the result of the macroscopic urinalysis test. It is online healthcare that helps you to solve your health problems. You can book the lab test if you do not have a prescription. We aim to provide better services, including e-consultation, medical imaging, pharmacies, and different kinds of lab tests. You can get treatment by sitting at home. Register here to learn more about us, and if you have any queries, you can write us.