WorksheetsChapter 5 UA Quizs Fall 2025
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
What effect does refrigeration have on the clarity of urine?
May cause precipitation of amorphous urates (pink) or phosphates (white)
Increases the clarity of urine
Causes urine to become darker
Has no effect on urine clarity
What causes urine to appear cloudy? Name two pathologic and two nonpathologic reasons.
White blood cells and bacteria; amorphous phosphates and mucus
Red blood cells and glucose; calcium oxalate and protein
Bacteria and glucose; urates and protein
White blood cells and glucose; amorphous phosphates and urates
What finding in urine is indicated by yellow foam when shaken?
Presence of bilirubin
Presence of glucose
Presence of ketones
Presence of protein
How is specific gravity defined, and why is it clinically important?
Ratio of density of urine to that of distilled water; indicates renal concentration ability
Ratio of the weight of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of water; used to measure hydration status
Measurement of the total dissolved solids in urine; indicates the presence of infection
Comparison of the density of urine to that of air; used to assess lung function
List in order: visual steps for evaluating urine color and clarity in the lab.
Well-mixed specimen → clear container → white background → good lighting → evaluate clarity → evaluate color
Well-mixed specimen → good lighting → clear container → evaluate color → white background → evaluate clarity
Clear container → well-mixed specimen → evaluate clarity → evaluate color → good lighting → white background
Well-mixed specimen → clear container → white background → good lighting → evaluate color → evaluate clarity
What type of urine specimen appearance would prompt immediate further investigation and possible reporting?
Clear urine with a negative blood test
Port wine–colored urine with a negative blood test
Pale yellow urine with a positive blood test
Dark brown urine with a negative blood test
What does a clear, pale yellow specimen with a specific gravity of 1.010 suggest about renal function?
It indicates normal renal concentrating ability.
It may be isosthenuric; could indicate loss of renal concentrating ability.
It suggests dehydration and concentrated urine.
It indicates the presence of a urinary tract infection.
What is the normal random range for urine specific gravity?
1.000 to 1.010
1.002 to 1.035
1.020 to 1.040
1.005 to 1.030
What causes urine to appear green or blue, and name one nonpathological reason?
Bacterial infection (Pseudomonas)
High consumption of asparagus
Dehydration
Excessive vitamin C intake
How does phenazopyridine interfere with routine urinalysis?
It increases the pH of urine, affecting test results
Its strong orange pigment can mask reagent strip color changes
It alters the specific gravity of urine samples
It enhances the detection of glucose in urine
Name one metabolic disorder that results in urine with a 'mousy' odor.
Phenylketonuria
Maple Syrup Urine Disease
Alkaptonuria
Cystinuria
When should a microscopic examination be performed on a clear urine specimen?
When chemical (dipstick) tests for protein, blood, nitrite, or leukocyte esterase are positive
When the urine is cloudy or has a strong odor
When the patient has a history of urinary tract infections
When the urine specimen is collected after exercise
What is the significance of a persistent low specific gravity reading?
Indicates normal kidney function
May indicate inability of the kidneys to concentrate urine (e.g., diabetes insipidus, chronic renal disease)
Suggests dehydration
Indicates high blood pressure
What can cause urine to have a strong ammonia odor?
Bacterial decomposition or prolonged standing
Excessive hydration
High protein diet
Use of certain medications
What is the clinical importance of urine odor, even if not routinely reported?
Certain odors can indicate infection or metabolic disease (e.g., fruity with ketones, ammonia with UTI)
Urine odor is primarily influenced by diet and hydration levels
Urine odor has no clinical significance and is rarely assessed
Urine odor can only indicate dehydration or overhydration
Name two abnormal urine colors and give one possible cause for each.
Red—could be due to blood; Brown/black—can be melanin or homogentisic acid
Yellow—could be due to dehydration; Green—can be due to bile pigments
Blue—could be due to medication; Orange—can be due to food dyes
Clear—could be due to excessive hydration; Cloudy—can be due to infection
A urine sample has a specific gravity of 1.045. What could cause this result?
Dehydration
Radiographic contrast media or plasma expanders
Kidney failure
Excessive fluid intake
If a sample’s clarity does not match the expected findings on microscopic exam, what should be considered?
Sample handling errors, contamination, or interference; consider review and possible recollection
The age of the sample may affect clarity
The type of microscope used for examination
Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity
Which urine color would prompt investigation for a possible liver disorder?
Light yellow
Dark yellow, amber, or yellow-green
Clear
Brown
How can you differentiate between the appearance of amorphous phosphates and urates in refrigerated urine?
Amorphous phosphates form a pink precipitate in acidic pH; amorphous urates form a white precipitate in alkaline pH
Amorphous phosphates form a white precipitate in alkaline pH; amorphous urates form a pink precipitate in acidic pH
Amorphous phosphates are colorless in both acidic and alkaline pH; amorphous urates form a yellow precipitate in neutral pH
Amorphous phosphates form a green precipitate in acidic pH; amorphous urates form a blue precipitate in alkaline pH
