Urinalysis Flashcards
7 cards from real CMLA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Urinalysis flashcards as text
When performing a urine dipstick test, how long should the strip be immersed in the urine?
Answer: Briefly, approximately 1 second
The dipstick should be briefly immersed for about 1 second to prevent leaching of reagents from the pads.
A urine pH of 8.5 in a freshly voided specimen may suggest:
Answer: Urinary tract infection with urease-producing bacteria
Urease-producing bacteria (e.g., Proteus) split urea into ammonia, raising urine pH to alkaline levels.
What is the correct order for urine sediment examination using a microscope?
Answer: Low power first, then high power
Urine sediment is first scanned under low power (10x) to identify casts and other structures, then examined at high power (40x) for detail.
Urobilinogen is increased in urine in which condition?
Answer: Hemolytic anemia
Hemolytic anemia increases bilirubin production, leading to increased urobilinogen formation and excretion in urine.
Which preservative is added to urine specimens for culture and sensitivity testing?
Answer: Boric acid
Boric acid preserves urine for culture by inhibiting bacterial growth without killing organisms, maintaining colony counts.
Which type of epithelial cell in urine sediment indicates contamination from the female genital tract?
Answer: Squamous epithelial cells
Squamous epithelial cells in large numbers indicate vaginal contamination of the urine specimen in females.
A urine dipstick hemoglobin test is positive but no red blood cells are seen microscopically. What is the most likely explanation?
Answer: Hemoglobinuria or myoglobinuria
A positive dipstick for blood without RBCs on microscopy suggests free hemoglobin or myoglobin in solution rather than intact cells.