Urinalysis is an important clinical tool for screening, diagnosing and monitoring patients in the context of diseases that have an impact on urine. Beyond information pertinent to the particular patient, urinalysis interpretation must take into account urine sample collection, preservation and processing. Consistent evaluation is best achieved by following a written urinalysis protocol.
Each of the various methods employed to collect a urine sample introduces its particular type of sample contamination, and this must be considered during results interpretation. Storage, preservation and processing of the urine sample all impact urinalysis results. Physiological influences, including diet, time of day, sexual activity, etc., also have to be considered in results interpretation. Finally, urinalysis interpretation requires a context provided by the patient's history, physical exam and other diagnostic results.
Urine begins as a glomerular filtrate of blood plasma, driven principally by arterial blood pressure. Both blood perfusion and glomerular integrity impact filtrate volume and composition. As filtrate passes through the nephron it's constituency is modified by active and passive tubular absorption and active tubular secretion. Where maximum rates of constituent active transport are exceeded, abnormal chemical composition of the filtrate will result. Hormonal influences, particularly ADH, augment removal of water from the filtrate.
The details concerning normal and abnormal urine formation, sample collection procedures, and analysis methodology are beyond the scope of this web app, which is intended for students to assess their capabilities to interpret urinalysis results.
Case 1
7-year-old spayed yellow Labrador Retriever
Case 2
8-year-old male Basset Hound
Case 3
5-year-old neutered male Persian cat
Case 4
10-year-old spayed Pomeranian dog
Case 5
10-year-old domestic neutered shorthair cat
Case 6
9-year-old male Miniature Poodle
Case 7
5-year-old male Golden Retriever
Case 8
9-year-old spayed female Boxer
Case 9
12-year-old male obese DSH cat
Case 10
5-year-old spayed Miniature Schnauzer
Case 11
5-year-old intact female Shih Tzu
Case 12
12-year-old spayed Boston Terrier
URINALYSIS RESULTS
Patientxxx:
Sampling Method:
Colxxor:
gColor
Colxxor:
gTurbid
Specific xxx Gravity:
gSpGr
pH:xxx
gPH
Glucosexxxxx:
gGlucose
gAcetxxxx:
gAcet
Billirubinxxxx:
gBili
Occult Bloodxxx:
gOccBld
Proteinxxxx:
gProt
RBCsxxxx:
gRBC
WBCsxxxx:
gWBC
Castsxxxxx:
gCasts
Epithelialxxx cells:
gepith
Bacteriaxxxxxx:
gBact
Crystalsxxxxxx:
gCryst
URINALYSIS RESULTS
Normal Adult Dogs
Sampling:
fresh sample, collected midstream during voiding
Color:
yellow
Trubidity:
clear
Specific Gravity range:
1.015 to 1.045
pH range:
4.5 to 8.5
Glucose:
negative
Acetone (Ketones):
negative
Billirubin:
negative to 2+
Occult Blood:
negative
Protein:
trace to 1+
RBCs:
0 to 5 / hpf
WBCs:
0 to 5 / hpf
Casts:
occasional hyaline / lpf
Epithelial cells:
occasional / hpf
Bacteria:
negative
Crystals:
variable / hpf
Fat droplets:
uncommon / hpf
Note: hpf = high power field; lpf = low power field
URINALYSIS RESULTS
Normal Adult Cats
Sampling:
fresh sample, collected midstream during voiding
Color:
yellow
Trubidity:
clear
Specific Gravity range:
1.035 to 1.080+
pH range:
4.5 to 8.5
Glucose:
negative
Acetone (Ketones):
negative
Billirubin:
negative
Occult Blood:
negative
Protein:
trace
RBCs:
0 to 5 / hpf
WBCs:
0 to 5 / hpf
Casts:
occasional hyaline / lpf
Epithelial cells:
occasional / hpf
Bacteria:
negative
Crystals:
variable / hpf
Fat droplets:
common / hpf
Note: hpf = high power field; lpf = low power field
About Veterinary
Urinalysis Quiz
This web app is intended for veterinary students who wish to self-assess their capability to correctly interpret canine and feline urinalysis results. The web app was designed for smartphones, but it can be viewed on tablet or computer screens as well.
Students select a particular clinical case, either directly or randomly. For each case selected, students are presented with randomly positioned multiple choice answers regarding interpretation of urinalysis results, which can be viewed in a popup window. Buttons are provided to select or reveal the correct answer and to view normal canine or feline urinalyses for comparison.
A Urinalysis Considerations section is offered as background information related to urinalysis interpretation. Links are provided to exit the web app, navigating to sites that host the web app link (Minnesota Urolith Center web site & Minnesota Veterinary Anatomy web site).
Note: Comments and urinalyses presented in this web app have been published previously by Carl A. Osborne, DVM, PhD, Dipl.ACVIM.