what is included in a urinalysis?

[GingerSue]

The reason that I ask is because in one paragraph it says: appearance, specific gravity, pH, glucose, ketones, protein in the urine and microscopic examination of urine sediment for WBCs, RBCs, crystals, and casts - but in the accompanying chart is also includes: bilirubin, osmolality, and culture for organisms.

Which is correct - is a culture included in urinalysis?

thanks

[chip193]

The reason that I ask is because in one paragraph it says: appearance, specific gravity, pH, glucose, ketones, protein in the urine and microscopic examination of urine sediment for WBCs, RBCs, crystals, and casts - but in the accompanying chart is also includes: bilirubin, osmolality, and culture for organisms.

Which is correct - is a culture included in urinalysis?

thanks

A culture is not included in the UA.

You can use the UA for many other things that testing for a UTI - DKA, trauma (hematuria), and dehydration are just a few that pop into my head right now. The culture and sensitivity is run after the UA shows a UTI (it may be ordered concurrently if the patient has UTI symptoms).

Hope this helps.

Chip

[suzanne4, RN]

A straight urinalysis is just that and is done to tell you what is in the urine, as far as blood, ketones, etc. Culture and sensitivity is done by the microbiology dept, and is usually ordered if the U/A shows bacteria or increased white cells. Some docs will order for it to be done automatically, if the U/A is positive.

Osmolality, urine sodium, etc. are done in the chemistry dept and are done only with a specific order. They are included with the U/A. You will get a specific gravity with a U/A, but the acutal osmolality number will be done by the chemistry lab.

[GingerSue]

thanks - that's what I thought too