1. Urinalysis

2. Urinalysis Collection Examination Near time of blood chemistry/CBC
Free catch
Cystocentesis
Catheterization
Collection from cage floor (least desirable)
Examination
Within 30 minutes of collection
Maximum cool storage: 6 to 24 hr
Urinalysis is an essential part of the baseline data obtained from most patients.
Storage can affect urine composition, so the times of collection and analysis should be included with the sample.
What can significantly affect urine stability? (Initial pH, concentration, and the presence of bacteria.)

3. Collection of Urine Free catch - simple method
Catheterization of bladder - size of catheter matched to size of urethra
Cytoscentesis - preferred method
What is a disadvantage of the free catch method? (It will include contamination from the urethra and areas around the urethral opening)
If catheterization is used, care must be taken to perform the procedure in a sterile manner.
How is cytoscentesis performed? (By inserting a needle attached to a syringe through the ventral body wall into the bladder).

4. Analysis of Urine Specimen
Equipment
Glass/plastic pipettes
Clean conical centrifuge tubes
Centrifuge
Refractometer
Urine chemical test strips
Microscope slides/coverslips
Microscope
Urine stains such as Sedi-Stain can be used to assist with microscopic evaluation.

5. Gross Examination of Urine
Color
Turbidity
Specific Gravity
Number and molecular weight of particles in urine
Indicator of renal function
Color may be normal or abnormal.
Horse urine is normally cloudy.
Specific gravity indicates renal function in maintaining hydration; hydration status can affect serum chemistry results.
No normal results for specific gravity for urine, only appropriate values for a given hydration state.

6. Chemical Evaluation of Urine
Reagent strip chemistries
Test pad analyte
Urine pH
Protein
Glucose
Ketones
Blood or heme
Bilirubin
Chemical reactions result in color changes of the pads and those color changes are compared with a key.
Urine stores in the refrigerator should be brought to room temperature before undergoing chemical analysis.
Normal urine should not contain glucose.

7. Microscopic Examination
Sediment preparation
Procedure for examination
Microscope adjustment
Fields counted
Cellular elements
Casts (protein with entrapped cells & debris)
Crystals (crystalluria)
Microorganisms (interpret in conjunction with sampling method & presence of inflammation
The numbers and types of cellular elements depend in part on the sampling method.
What is pyuria? (A condition of increased numbers of leukocytes and indicates inflammation in the urinary tract).
Failure to find microorganisms in urine sediment does not exclude infection as a cause of urinary tract inflammation.

11. QUESTIONS?