RMA Urinalysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A urine specimen left at room temperature for two hours before testing may show a falsely elevated pH. What causes this change?
- Bacteria converting urea to ammonia (Correct answer)
- Glucose fermentation by yeast
- Crystallization of urea
- Evaporation of water from the sample
Correct answer: Bacteria converting urea to ammonia
Bacteria break down urea into ammonia, raising the pH of a standing specimen.
Question 2: Which urine collection method is preferred for an accurate routine urinalysis with the least contamination?
- First morning clean-catch midstream (Correct answer)
- Random afternoon void
- 24-hour pooled collection
- Catheterized sample from an indwelling bag
Correct answer: First morning clean-catch midstream
A first morning clean-catch midstream specimen is concentrated and minimizes contamination.
Question 3: A reagent strip shows a positive nitrite result. This most strongly suggests the presence of what?
- Gram-negative bacteria (Correct answer)
- Red blood cells
- Excess glucose
- Ketone bodies
Correct answer: Gram-negative bacteria
Many gram-negative bacteria reduce urinary nitrate to nitrite, indicating a possible UTI.
Question 4: What is the normal expected color of a freshly voided, properly hydrated urine specimen?
- Pale yellow to amber (Correct answer)
- Cloudy white
- Bright orange
- Dark brown
Correct answer: Pale yellow to amber
Normal urine ranges from pale yellow to amber due to the pigment urochrome.
Question 5: Before dipping a reagent strip, the medical assistant should ensure the urine specimen is at what temperature?
- Room temperature (Correct answer)
- Refrigerated at 4 degrees C
- Body temperature in a warming block
- Frozen then thawed
Correct answer: Room temperature
Reagent strip reactions are calibrated for room-temperature specimens.
Question 6: Which finding on a reagent strip is most commonly associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus?
- Glucose and ketones (Correct answer)
- Nitrite and leukocytes
- Bilirubin and urobilinogen
- Blood and protein
Correct answer: Glucose and ketones
Glucose and ketones appear in urine when blood sugar is poorly controlled.
Question 7: How should a reagent strip be read for accurate results after dipping?
- Compared to the color chart at the specified timing (Correct answer)
- Read immediately the instant it is removed
- Read after drying for 10 minutes
- Compared only under ultraviolet light
Correct answer: Compared to the color chart at the specified timing
Each pad must be compared to the bottle's color chart at the manufacturer's specified time.
RMA Urinalysis 2
A urine specimen left at room temperature for two hours before testing may show a falsely elevated pH.
What causes this change?