Title: Perform complete urinalysis.
Course: Medical Laboratory Technology I (14102-I) > Section: Understanding the Basics of Urinalysis

Performance should include the three main components:

- Chemical examination of urine, using dip sticks (i.e., reagent strips) to determine the presence of glucose, blood (i.e., red cells, white cells), protein, and other substances/parameters
- Physical examination of urine, to include color, turbidity, and other characteristics
- Microscopic examination of urine, to include casts, cells, crystals, and other constituents

Process/Skill Questions:

- What is the significance of turbidity in a urine sample?
- What reaction on a test strip indicates the presence of leukocytes? Why is the presence of leukocytes significant?
- What changes occur in a urine sample that is left at room temperature? Why? How does this affect test validity?
- In what pH should calcium oxalate crystals be found? Why is this phenomenon important?
- What does the type of epithelial cell show about its origin in the urinary tract?
- What does the presence of casts indicate in a patient?
- Why is the timing of reading each reagent pad of the reagent strip (dipstick) critical?