Characteristics of Normal and Abnormal Urine Heather Nelson, RN

Urine Amount Normal: ml Normal: ml Abnormal: Under 1200 ml Abnormal: Under 1200 ml Decreased fluid intake Decreased fluid intake Kidney failure Kidney failure Abnormal: Over 1500 ml Abnormal: Over 1500 ml Diabetes Diabetes Diuretics Diuretics Increased fluid intake Increased fluid intake

Urine Color Normal: Straw, amber, or transparent Normal: Straw, amber, or transparent

Urine Color Abnormal: Abnormal: Dark amber Dark amber Insufficient fluid intake resulting in concentrated urine Insufficient fluid intake resulting in concentrated urine Cloudy Cloudy Infectious process Infectious process Dark orange Dark orange Drugs (e.g., Pyridium) Drugs (e.g., Pyridium) Red or dark brown Red or dark brown Disease process causing blood in urine Disease process causing blood in urine

Urine Consistency Normal: Clear liquid Normal: Clear liquid Abnormal: Mucous plugs, viscid, thick Abnormal: Mucous plugs, viscid, thick Infectious process Infectious process

Urine Odor Normal: Faint aromatic Normal: Faint aromatic Abnormal: Offensive Abnormal: Offensive Infectious process Infectious process

Urine Sterility Normal: No microorganisms present Normal: No microorganisms present Abnormal: Microorganisms present Abnormal: Microorganisms present Infection of the urinary tract Infection of the urinary tract

Urine pH Normal: 4.5 to 8 Normal: 4.5 to 8 Abnormal: Over 8 Abnormal: Over 8 Urinary tract infection Urinary tract infection Abnormal: Under 4.5 Abnormal: Under 4.5 Uncontrolled diabetes, starvation, dehydration Uncontrolled diabetes, starvation, dehydration

Urine Specific Gravity Normal: to Normal: to Abnormal: Under Abnormal: Under Diabetes insipidus, kidney disease, overhydration Diabetes insipidus, kidney disease, overhydration Abnormal: Over Abnormal: Over Diabetes mellitus, underhydration Diabetes mellitus, underhydration

Urine Glucose Normal: Not present Normal: Not present Abnormal: Present Abnormal: Present Diabetes mellitus Diabetes mellitus

Urine Ketone Bodies (Acetone) Normal: Not present Normal: Not present Abnormal: Present Abnormal: Present Diabetic coma, starvation, prolonged vomiting Diabetic coma, starvation, prolonged vomiting

Urine Blood Normal: Not present Normal: Not present Abnormal: Occult Abnormal: Occult Kidney disease Kidney disease Abnormal: Bright red Abnormal: Bright red Hemorrhage Hemorrhage