How to properly take a urine test in a clinic
Before going to the clinic, you should remember that its quality is affected by those foods and liquids that a person consumed before taking the culture test. Therefore, in order for the crop examination to be as effective as possible, you should prepare for the test, namely:
- You need to give up those products that can change the color of the crop, for example, smoked meats.
- There is no need to drink alcohol or take various dietary supplements and vitamins before visiting the clinic for a culture test.
- If you are taking any medications, it is important to inform your doctor at the clinic.
- You should not visit the sauna before taking the culture tests, or put too much strain on your body.
- After cystoscopy, you should not take a culture test at the clinic for 5-7 days.
Main indicators of urine biochemistry
- Appearance of urine: Normally, urine should be transparent, straw-yellow or dark yellow in color with a mild odor.
- The pH level allows you to identify metabolic disorders.
- Protein is an important indicator in glomerular lesions.
- Glucose helps determine diabetes mellitus.
- Ketones: if there is an increase in them, this means there are problems with carbohydrate metabolism.
- Blood. This indicator allows you to determine the presence of disorders of the glomerular apparatus, infections, and malignant tumors. Normally it should be absent.
- Bilirubin.
- Urobilinogen.
- Hemoglobin should normally be absent.
- Density. Its increase indicates diabetes.
- Nitrites determine the presence of bacteria. Normally they should be absent.
- Red blood cells.
- White blood cells indicate the presence of infection.
- Epithelial cells.
- Urea. When the value of this indicator increases, we can conclude that proteins are decomposing.
- Phosphorus indicates pathological processes in bone tissue and kidneys.
- Magnesium indicates kidney failure, pathologies in the cardiac and nervous systems.
- Calcium. An increase in the indicator indicates diseases such as hyperparathyroidism, Itsenko-Cushing syndrome, osteoporosis, etc.
- Potassium. Changes in this indicator indicate hormonal disorders, intoxication and kidney problems.
How long does a urine test take?
This question worries many who are about to pass the sowing. So how many days does such an analysis take? Typically, how many days or time a culture test takes depends on the circumstances. Most specialists in hospital laboratories do testing within 3-4 hours. That is, when handing over the sowing in the morning in the afternoon, you can already get the finished sowing result.
Also, other circumstances may influence how long or days such examinations take. Usually visitors are warned about this in advance. It is also recommended that when visiting a laboratory in a clinic, you independently check with specialists how much time or days they will need for the tests to be ready.
Liquids should only be handed over into clean containers that are free of debris and dust. It is recommended to collect urine in the morning before certain foods or liquids are consumed.
This will help make the testing more qualitative, since the urine will contain only those products that the body secretes during its life without other additives. Knowing how much urine analysis is done and how, you can prepare for such a process in advance.
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For pain during urination in the pubic area;
Pain when urinating;
Material for bacteriological analysis of urine should be collected in the morning, immediately after sleep. This is done as follows: take sterile containers (if possible, you can purchase them at the pharmacy; if not, then take a glass jar and sterilize it along with the lid). The first and last drops are passed outside the dishes.
Before you start collecting urine, you should thoroughly wash your hands and genitals. If you are taking any medications and need a urine culture test, be sure to notify your doctor. After all, medications, especially antibiotics, can affect the test result, and it may be false negative.
Vulvovaginitis (may be the case when, in preparation for urine collection, the recommendations for collecting material were not followed, and the urine was collected incorrectly);
Urethritis;
Pyelonephoritis;
Prostatitis;
Lack of hygiene and others.
Norms of indicators
These values may vary slightly in different laboratories, but the following norms for blood values are generally accepted:
- hemoglobin: in women - 120-140 g/l, in men - 130-160 g/l;
- hematocrit: in women -34.2-46.7%, in men - 34.3-46.9%;
- platelets - 180-361×109;
- erythrocytes - 3.7-4.7 × 1012;
- leukocytes - 4-9×109;
- color index - 0.85-1.15;
- ESR - in women - 2-15 mm/h, in men - 1-10 mm/h;
- reticulocytes - 0.2-1.3%;
- eosinophils 0-6%;
- thrombocrit 0.1-0.6%;
- basophils - 0-1%;
- monocytes - 2-8%;
- lymphocytes - 17-40%;
- red blood cell volume - 78-94 fl;
- neutrophils - 1-7%;
- neutrophils - 46-73%.
Each of these values plays a certain role in deciphering a blood test, but the most reliable result consists not only of the ratio of the obtained indicators with the normal variants - the quantitative characteristics are considered together, taking into account the relationship between different properties of the blood.
Urine sterility test
A urine sterility test is one of the most labor-intensive tests. Tank urine analysis is carried out as follows: the sample taken is grown in a nutrient medium in an incubator. The bacteria grown as a result of this manipulation are re-grown in a Petri dish. After this, the resulting bacteria are separated and grown again, only separately from each other.
And only after these complex procedures can it be determined which bacteria are present and what antibiotics the bacteria of a given species are sensitive to. On average it lasts ten days. And, nevertheless, using a urine test for sterility, you can obtain information that a general urine test may not provide.
Approximate prices for performing bacterial sowing in Moscow
What does urine culture show? In any case, the doctor needs to know three components of the study:
- What pathogens caused the pathological process?
- How severe is the degree of bacteriuria in this patient?
- What groups of antibacterial medications have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microflora?
The doctor needs to know all this in order to be confident in the correct diagnosis and the prescription of effective therapy, especially for chronic or severe, complicated forms of genitourinary diseases. Urine culture copes well with this task.
The ideal indicator is the complete absence of pathogens in the urine. But the small presence of infectious agents is also regarded as a variant of the norm. In this case, it all depends on how many microbes in the urine the tank analysis shows. If a laboratory technician detects no more than 1000 pathogenic cells per 1 ml of test liquid in the secretions, the patient has nothing to worry about.
When the content of microorganisms reaches values of 8-10 thousand units per 1 ml, this means that the result of a urine examination can be considered doubtful. The concentration of dangerous pathogens, up to 100-120 thousand cells per ml, is regarded as pathological. This result indicates a serious infection of the human urethra and genital organs. Diseases in which the culture results immediately showed the presence of several types of microbes in the urine are even more severe.
As for the antibiogram, it is performed only if prescribed. With its help, the doctor determines the resistance of individual strains of infections to the influence of medications. Now such an analysis is often done, because after prolonged use of antibiotics, many of them have lost their beneficial properties.
In a microbiology laboratory, urine is first examined macroscopically.
Microscopic analysis of the sample reveals the presence of red blood cells and white blood cells. An increased level of leukocytes is a sign of an infectious lesion.
The final stage is the actual bacteriological culture of urine. The required amount of liquid is placed in a special environment suitable for the growth of bacteria.
The sample is left for a day in a thermostat maintaining a temperature of 35-37 degrees. Such conditions are most suitable for bacterial growth. After 24 hours, a colony of microorganisms is formed, visible on the surface of the medium. If after 24 hours no colonies have appeared, it is considered that no pathogenic microflora has been detected.
When a pathogenic bacterium is detected, its type is diagnosed. There are special research techniques that allow you to determine the type of colony-forming microorganisms.
The next step is to check the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics. It takes at least 24 hours to determine resistance.
Thus, the result of a urine culture test is prepared for at least two days, the average time is 4-6 days.
The concentration of colony-forming units (CFU) in a urine test indicates the presence or absence of an inflammatory process. The number of microorganisms less than 1000 CFU in 1 ml of urine indicates the absence of an infectious lesion.
The causes of diseases are some types of pathogenic agents:
- Primary uropathogens. The main ones are Escherichia coli (E.Coli), salmonella. To diagnose the disease, the concentration must exceed 1000 CFU/ml.
- Secondary uropathogens are Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus. The pathological amount is not less than 10,000 CFU/ml.
- Doubtful pathogens (Streptococcus, Acinetobacter and others). The titer must exceed 100,000 CFU/ml.
In case of mixed infection, bacteriological culture of urine reveals the type of dominant microorganism. Colonies of different types of bacteria have different appearances from each other. Additional research is being conducted to clarify the data.
Therapy for an infectious disease is based on the sensitivity of the microorganism to antibacterial drugs, as shown by urine culture. The results of a bacteriological study allow the doctor to select an effective drug for a given pathogen.
Bacteriological urine culture in Moscow costs from 500 to 2500 rubles, depending on the pricing policy of the clinic. The average cost is approximately 700-800 rubles.
After starting a course of antibiotics, symptoms of an infectious disease disappear within a few days. The absence of pain and normalization of urination does not mean complete recovery. After completion of antibacterial therapy, a urine culture test is taken after 7 days. Repeated sampling is carried out after a month. If the causative agent of the inflammatory process is not identified in the urine, the patient is considered healthy.
Urine flora analysis
Urine flora analysis is a complex process. However, the information that can be obtained by conducting it cannot be obtained from any other analysis. The study helps prescribe effective therapy for complex cases. You must always remember that the test must be taken either before the start or a week after the end of the course of uroseptics and antibiotics. Otherwise, the result will be unreliable.
Urine analysis is a process of studying its physical and chemical parameters - the amount of salts, blood cells, protein, microflora and much more dissolved in it. All these indicators are of high value in diagnosing the general condition of the body and the urinary system, in particular.
Advantages and disadvantages of the method
Culture is significantly different from a general urine test. When performing an OAM, a specialist must perform a microscopic examination of the urine sediment. The quantitative content of fungal and bacterial pathogens is determined in the secretions. When too many microbes enter the field of view of the magnifying apparatus, this is considered a pathology and indicates the presence of bacteriuria. A big disadvantage of the general examination method is the lack of information about the type of infectious agents.
In a simple laboratory it is impossible to differentiate all detected pathogens. The specialist is able to visually identify only some types of bacteria, but for this the study must be performed with special microscopes, as well as Gram staining of the microorganisms. They also use more modern microscopy techniques - electronic or luminescent.
In such a situation, urine culture may not be necessary for diagnosis and treatment. But such a detailed study of biomaterial is carried out only in the laboratories of a special microbiological department.
Although carrying out a urine test for BC requires certain financial costs, it is necessary to undergo it. Many infectious diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems often occur without the characteristic symptoms of the disorder. In such a situation, urine culture will play a decisive role in diagnosing the disease and selecting the correct treatment tactics.
Chemical composition of urine and its properties
At the moment, medicine has identified about 150 chemical compounds, through the control of which the condition of the urinary system and the body as a whole is determined. Some of them, for example, urea, are a completely natural and normal component of urine, but there are other components that should not be detected at all in the urine of a healthy person (Bence-Jones protein) or present in minute proportions - protein, red blood cells, leukocytes, glucose.
The list of indicators studied during clinical urine analysis is very wide - here is the main part of this list:
- Color, transparency and smell;
- Specific density (weight);
- Acid reaction (pH);
- Protein compounds;
- Glucose;
- Ketones;
- Bile acid;
- Bilirubin;
- Urobilinov;
- Blood cells and its pigments - hemoglobin, porphyrin, hemosiderin;
- Myoglobin;
- Melanin;
- Indicana;
- Nitrite compounds.
The choice of urine parameters to be studied depends on the type of suspected pathology. For example, in case of endocrine disorders, it is important to determine the presence and quantity of ketones and glucose in the urine, and in case of nephrological problems - protein and blood pigments. A urine screening test is often done to exclude or confirm metabolic disorders, both hereditary and acquired. As a rule, such tests are used in diagnosing infants.
What does the deadline depend on?
The timing of a biochemical blood test depends on the technical equipment of the laboratory in which the patient donates blood. Since this study involves analyzing the hormonal immunological and biochemical composition of the blood, this process can take several days. This depends on the number of blood components being determined and can take from 3 to 14 days.
People often wonder how much a general urine and blood test takes.
Method for determining daily diuresis
Daily diuresis is not a constant value; it fluctuates depending on the time of day and the composition of the diet. In addition, there is a direct dependence on age, for example, in a child who is an infant, diuresis is slightly higher than usual, which is quite normal and natural.
To determine quantitative indicators, test tubes with measuring marks are used. The largest amount of urine excreted is observed during the day - between two and six hours, and the smallest - at night. The normal ratio of daytime to nighttime diuresis is 3 – 4/1.
This method of urine analysis allows you to determine the degree of the kidneys’ ability to regulate the process of concentration and removal of urine from the body, and specifically, it evaluates the ratio of fluid consumed per day and the amount of urine excreted after a certain time. The study is carried out separately for daytime and nighttime periods.
There are three such methods: qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative.
This method is based on the ability of the reaction of protein cells to react in a certain way to the reagents used - under their influence, changes occur that lead to the deposition of sediment in the urine in the form of flakes and turbidity of the liquid.
For such a sample, two test tubes are prepared - the main one and the control one. Turbidity is determined by illuminating the sample against a black background. For qualitative research, Heller's methods, boiling, research with sulfasalicylic acid (15 - 20%) and others are also used.
The most popular methods of qualitative urine examination according to Heller and using sulfasalicylic acid are considered. The latter is most effective for diagnosing proteinuria.
The main ones are the use of special protein-sensitive test strips and the Brantberg-Roberts-Stolnikov method. The latter uses the Heller ring test as a basis, so to some extent they have the same disadvantages.
Today, semi-quantitative testing studies predominate. The main reagent of such test strips is bromophenol blue. The amount of protein is determined depending on the color of the test strip obtained. Most often, this is done visually, but it is possible to use special analyzers.
The simplicity, speed and convenience of this method, unfortunately, also has a downside - low reliability of the research results. This is due to the fact that the indicator is maximally sensitive to albumin and reacts relatively weakly to other proteins, therefore the method is effective for proteinuria of a glomerular nature with a predominance of albumin proteins in the urine.
These methods for determining protein in urine use:
- Sulfacylic and trichloroacetic acids;
- Benzotonium chloride;
- Biuret reaction;
- Lowry method;
- Amburger method;
- Nechiporenko's method.
Duration of the procedure depending on the research method
How long does a urine test take? As has been repeatedly noted earlier, this depends on the method of conducting the test, the purpose of its administration and the urgency of the manipulation. Let's consider this issue in more detail.
How long does it take to perform a general urine test in a clinic? This question needs to be clarified with a laboratory assistant, since each medical institution has its own rules for performing such manipulation.
OAM is prescribed for almost all ailments that a person complains about. During its implementation, the transparency of the biomaterial, its density, the presence of sediment and pathological inclusions are assessed.
The test is prescribed for diagnostic and preventive purposes. It can also be carried out when it is necessary to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for various diseases. Here are a few rules that must be followed to obtain correct sample results:
- The study is carried out only on an empty stomach;
- the urine collection container must be sterile;
- The collected biomaterial must be taken to the laboratory no later than 2 hours after urination.
So, how long does a general urine test take? Typically, the laboratory procedure takes a day, but if the doctor needs the results soon, it may take several hours. In any case, you should always discuss these nuances with the doctor and laboratory assistant.
A completely different question is how long urine samples are taken at the clinic. The appointment time also depends on the laboratory rules. But the most optimal period, as for donating blood, is 8 – 11 am.
Study of daily urine
A daily urine analysis is usually prescribed to assess the functioning of the kidneys in various diseases - cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, etc. The collection of biomaterial is carried out in a large, three-liter container, after which, the next day, the urine is shaken and part of it is poured into a small container . Urine should be transported immediately after transfusion. The time for taking tests at the clinic is until 11 or 12 o’clock. In private clinics, biomaterial can be taken longer.
Important! The collection of daily urine should be completed when it was started. This means that if the first urination was at 5 a.m., then the next morning, also at 5 a.m., you need to stop collecting urine, then carry out the previously described measures, and take the material for research when the clinic starts working.
How long does it take to prepare a urine test at the clinic? The study of daily urine does not take much time, so the patient often receives the results right on the day of delivery. But sometimes it may take a laboratory assistant several days to perform the manipulation. In such circumstances, he is obliged to notify the patient or his attending physician about this.
Nechiporenko method
How long does it take to perform a urine test according to Nechiporenko? First, let's understand how this technique differs from other existing ones. First of all, such manipulation is performed when the doctor has reason to doubt the accuracy of the OAM results. Studying urine using this method is especially popular because it does not require special equipment. And the technique for carrying it out is simpler, therefore, results can be obtained faster.
The main feature of this test is the counting of leukocytes, red blood cells and casts in 1 ml of urine. For the sample, you need to collect 10 ml of urine in a sterile container. The time for taking urine tests at the clinic is the same - from 8 to 11 (12) hours. If the patient is undergoing hospital treatment, or his health situation is extremely serious, then urine can be tested regardless of the time of day.
How long does it take to prepare a urine test according to Nechiporenko? This procedure may take 1–2 hours, depending on the length of the queue for the test. If you are in a particular hurry, results can be obtained within a few minutes.
Zimnitsky test
How long does it take to perform a urine test using the Zimnitsky method? To do this, urine is collected in 8 containers at a time strictly specified by the doctor. All containers must be signed and taken to the laboratory. The time for taking urine tests is the same as in previously discussed cases. You can receive these samples within a day.
Research using the Amburger method
The number of leukocytes and erythrocytes is calculated regardless of the volume of urine. What matters here is the volume of fluid secreted by the kidneys every minute.
To do this, a container with urine is placed in a special centrifuge, which is run for 5 minutes. Then, using a pipette, the laboratory assistant takes 10 ml of urine, places it in a clean test tube and again puts it in the centrifuge for 5 minutes. Then the top layer of liquid is drained, mixed with the sediment and sent to the chamber, where leukocytes and red blood cells are counted.
How long does it take to perform a urine test like this? Since this is a very time-consuming procedure and the line at the laboratory can be long, it may take some time.
Thus, it is impossible to say unequivocally how long it takes to prepare a urine test using this method. This may take several hours or several days.
Semi-quantitative research method
Such studies are aimed at determining the level of protein and its varieties in a biomaterial. But this procedure has one big drawback - the reagents are most sensitive to albumin. This test “feels” other types of proteins weakly.
How long will it take for such a urine test to be ready? As a rule, results are provided within a few hours. But sometimes the patient is asked to wait 3 to 5 working days.
General urine analysis
He is prescribed to assess the physico-chemical component and its sediment. During the study, specialists pay attention to the color of the material being examined, transparency, acidity and density.
They rent it out for:
- Identify various kidney diseases;
- Determine the presence of pyelonephritis, diseases of the urinary system and prostate gland;
- See in time the existing signs of disease development in the initial stages, when there are still no characteristic symptoms.
Indications for a general urine test may include:
- Presence of diseases that led to hospitalization. Regardless of the diagnosis, the patient is required to undergo diagnostics;
- Suspicions of kidney and urinary tract disease;
- Annual medical examinations for children and adults;
- The need to monitor the course of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment;
- Diseases caused by streptococci. After completion of treatment, it is recommended to conduct a diagnosis after a couple of weeks.
Before collecting urine, in order for the analysis to be the most informative, it is necessary to carefully carry out intimate hygiene. Then the middle portion is collected: the first stream is flushed down the toilet, after which the middle portion is collected into a sterile container, and the remaining stream is also flushed down the toilet. If necessary, store the jar in the refrigerator and take it to the laboratory no later than two hours after collection.
Many people are interested in the question: “How long does a urine test take?” It prepares very quickly, and the next day you can already see the results. There are also urgent diagnostics, where the results will be ready within an hour.
Indications for this study
Bacterial analysis of urine is indicated for a patient with the following disorders of the urinary organs:
- urethritis in chronic form;
- glomerulonephritis;
- urination disorder;
- pyelonephritis;
- cystitis;
- state of pregnancy in women;
- presence of bacteriuria during OAM (asymptomatic);
- paranephritis;
- the need to determine an antibiogram;
- monitoring the effectiveness of therapy.