Practical Veterinary Urinalysis

Beginning with an overview of renal physiology and urine production, the main focus of the book is examination and analysis of urine samples, including physical properties, chemical analysis, and sediment examination. Additional chapters review diagnostic tests and considerations for proteinuria, advanced diagnostics, quality assurance and laboratory set-up. Practical Veterinary Urinalysis is an invaluable tool for achieving accurate and reliable laboratory results and is a useful addition to any veterinary library.

Preface and Acknowledgments ix

Chapter 1 Functional Renal Physiology and Urine Production 1

Glomerular filtration 1

Tubular reabsorption and secretion 3

Collecting tubules 5

Renal function and measures of renal function 5

Laboratory assessment of renal function 6

Chapter 2 Specimen Procurement 9

Laboratory definitions for collection methods 9

Urine specimen containers 12

Specimen handling and preservation 15

Types of urine specimens 16

Chapter 3 Routine Urinalysis: Physical Properties 19

Solute concentration 19

Urine color 25

Chapter 4 Routine Urinalysis: Chemical Analysis 29

pH 29

Protein 32

Glucose 38

Ketone 40

Blood 42

Bilirubin 45

Urobilinogen 48

Nitrite 49

Leukocyte esterase 50

Specific gravity 51

Chapter 5 Routine Urinalysis: Microscopic Elements 55

Urine sediment preparation 55

Examination of urine sediment 57

Microscopic elements of urine sediment 59

Chapter 6 Proteinuria 113

Protein handling by the kidney 113

Significance of proteinuria 116

Laboratory diagnosis of proteinuria 117

Recommendations regarding diagnosis of proteinuria 126

Additional considerations for proteinuria 126

Chapter 7 Advanced Diagnostics 133

Detection of bacteriuria versus diagnosis of urinary tract infection 133

Urinary tract cytology 136

Fractional excretion 147

Urinary biomarkers 149

Chapter 8 Laboratory Quality Assurance 155

Physical requirements of the laboratory 155

Laboratory equipment 157

Reagents and supplies for the urinalysis laboratory 160

Laboratory waste 160

Quality control in the urinalysis laboratory 161

Procedure manuals 163

Index 165

Nicole M. Weinstein DVM, DACVP (Clinical Pathology), is the section chief of Laboratory Services in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Biomedical Sciences at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia.