Exercise 2: The Physical

Examination of Urine
Carine May Jul Aposaga, RMT
1.1 Laboratory Objective
The student will be able to determine the physical
charactateristics of urine using routine laboratory
testing methods.
1.2 Principle
• The physical examination of urine includes the determination of the
urine color, clarity, and specific gravity.
• Observation of these characteristics provides preliminary information
concernig disorders such as glomerular bleeding, liver disease, inborn
errors of metabolism, and urinary tract infection
Urine Color
• It is normally different shades of yellow ( ranges from straw to amber
yellow )
• Urochrome - the pigment responsible for the normal yellow urine
color
• Any variation in urine color can indicate the presence of a disease
process, a metabolic abnormality, or an ingested food or drug, or due
to excessive physical activity or stress.
Clarity
• Describes the overall visual appearance of urine specimen or the
cloudiness caused by suspended particulate matter that scatters light.
• Normally, a clean catch specimen is CLEAR when freshly voided.
Clarity
Nonpathologic Cause of Turbidity Pathologic Cause of Turbidity
Normal crystals RBC
Radiographic contrast media WBC
Mucus Bacteria
Squamous epithelial cells Yeast
Spermatozoa Renal epithelial cells
Prostatic fluid Fat
Fecal contamination Abnormal crystal
Talc Calculi
Pus
Clarity
• Nonpathologic substances could be a normal urine component or
contaminant.
• Pathologic substances in the urine indicates
a.) deterioration of the barrier normally separating the urinary tract
from the blood
b.) a disease process
c.) a metabolic function
Clarity
Clarity Description

Clear No visible particulates, transparent.

Hazy Few particulates, print easily seen

through urine.
Cloudy Many particulates, print blurred through
urine
Turbid Print cannot be seen through urine.

Milky May precipitate or be clotted.

Specific Gravity
• An expression of urine concentration.
• It is the ratio of the density of urine to the density of an equal volume
of distilled water at a similar temperature
• The greater the density, the larger is the specific gravity value.
• 1.002 is the lowest urine specific gravity obtainable.
• 1.040 is the approximate maximum specific gravity the urine can
attain is equal to that of the hyperosmotic renal medulla
1.3 Equipments and Materials
• Urinometer
• Refractometer
• Test tubes
• Urine container
• Reagent strip
1.4 Specimen
• Midstream, clean-catch urine
1.5 Quality Control
• For best results , performance of the reagents strip method should be
confirmed by testing known negative and positive specimens or
control whenever a new bottle is opened.
1.6 Procedure
1. Collect FRESH urine specimen in a clean, dry container. Mix well
immediately before testing.
2. Fill a clean, dry test tube with 3/4 full of urine. Examine and take
note of the color and turbidity of the specimen.
3. For specific gravity determination, follow the instructions given
below.
4. For Reagent strip method, remove one strip from bottle and replace
cap.
 1.6 Procedure
5. Completely immerse reagent areas of the
strip in the tube of the Fresh urine and
remove immediately to avoid dissolving out
of reagents.
6. While removing, run the edge of the
entire length of the strip against the rim of
the test tube to remove excess urine. Hold
the strip in horizontal position to prevent
possible mixing of chemicals from adjacent
reagent areas and or contaminating hands
with urine.
1.6 Procedure
7. Compare specific gravity area to
the corresponding colour chart on
the bottle label after 45 seconds.
Hold strip to colour blocks and
match carefully . Avoid laying the
strip directly on the colour chart ,
as this will result in the urine
soiling the chart.
8. Record your result on the report
form.
1.6 Procedure
9. For Urinometer method, fill the
cylinder with 3/4 full of urine
sample. Spin the urinometer with
the cylinder then, read and record
the specific gravity when the
urinometer has stopped.
10. Read the specific gravity value
in the lower meniscus then
compute for the corrected specific
gravity.
 1.6 Procedure
11. For Refractometer method, clean
first the surface of the cover and prism
of the refractometer with a clean cloth
or tissue paper until dry.
12. Place a drop of urine at the bottom
of the cover so that it flows over the
prism surface through capillary action.
13. Point the refractometer towards
the light source and record the specific
gravity reading on the left side of the
scale.
1.7 Procedure Notes
• In evaluating the physical characteristics of the urine, one must use a
well-mixed specimen. View it through a clear cotainer-plastic or glass.
View against a white background. Evaluate a consistent depth or
volume of the specimen. Maintain room lighting at a consistently
adequate level.
Study Questions
1. Explain the principles of Urinometer, Refractometer and Reagent
Strip Method.

2. What is Harmonic Oscillation Densitometry?

3. Is evaluation of urine odor part of the physical examination of the

urine? If yes, give 5 kinds of odors found in the urine and give at least
one cause of each.