There are a number of recommendations for the proper collection of urine for analysis:
1. Wash the baby before you collect urine. When you are tempting the girl, make sure that the water flows from front to back. Wash the boy, try to open and wash the head of the penis, but only if it can be easily removed from the foreskin. Do not injure the child, trying to force the head of the penis.
2. Remember that evening urine gives the wrong result, therefore, only morning urine is needed for analysis.
3. The dishes, which are intended for collecting the analysis, must be sterilized. To do this, you can boil it or hold it over the steam for fifteen minutes.
4. When the urine is collected, place it in a cool dark place. It should be stored no more than 3 hours before you deliver it to the laboratory.
So, you have fulfilled all the above recommendations, passed the urine for analysis to the laboratory, and now you have a form with the result in your hands. Let's see if everything is in order with your child.
The interpretation of the results is as follows:
1. Quantity.
In the beginning on the form of the results of the analysis you will see the amount of urine that was handed over. For qualitative analysis, a minimum of 15 ml is required.
2. Color.
Usually the urine is straw-yellow due to the pigment content of urochrome. But do not forget that because of eating some food or taking medicines, the color of urine may change.
3. Transparency.
Normally, urine is transparent or slightly cloudy, after some time has passed. If the urine is flocculent or cloudy, it speaks of inflammation of the kidneys and urinary tract. If the urine is too muddy, then it contains salts, bacteria and mucus. To diagnose these impurities in the laboratory, special techniques will be applied.
4. Density.
The value of the density of urine should be within 1007-1024. If the density is lowered, it can be a sign of kidney failure, polyuria, prolonged starvation. If the density, on the contrary, is increased, this indicates a large loss of body water and insufficient intake of liquid. Do not forget that the density of urine depends also on the amount of liquid and food consumed by the child.
5. Urinary reaction (pH).
It is normal if the reaction is neutral, weakly acidic or slightly alkaline. The normal value is 6, 25 0, 36. It also depends on the nutrition of your child. If a child eats meat products, the urine reaction will become more acidic, and from the use of plant products the value of this parameter will shift towards more alkaline.
6. Protein.
Normally, protein in the urine should not be. If the protein in the urine is more than normal, this is a sign of an infectious disease. Hence, your child needs a further examination.
7. Glucose.
The glucose content in normal urine should not exceed 0, 2%.
8. Epithelium.
The epithelium is the cells lining the surface of the urinary canal. Normally, a small amount of epithelium is allowed - 1-2 within the field of view of the microscope. If more is found in the analysis, it probably means an inflammatory process.
9. Leukocytes.
Leukocytes are white blood cells. Usually their number is small - for boys up to five cells in the field of view of the microscope, for girls - up to seven. If more leukocytes are found, this is a sign of an inflammatory process in the urinary canals.
10. Erythrocytes.
Erythrocytes are red blood cells. Only their detection in single quantities is allowed - up to 3-4 within the field of view. If a greater number of red blood cells is found, this is a sign of inflammation or metabolic disorders.
11. Hyaline cylinders.
It can be said that this, in a way, molds of the urinary tract. Only availability in single quantities is allowed. If large numbers of them are found, or cylinders of a different kind (indicating changes in the kidneys), the child needs to be inspected further.
12. Mucus.
Normally mucus should not be, or it can be present in small amounts. If there is a lot of mucus in the urine, this means an increased amount of salts, which is another indication of the inflammatory process.
13. Salt.
A small amount is allowed. If a large amount of salts is found, further examination of the child is necessary.
14. Bacteria.
A small number is acceptable. The high content of bacteria indicates that the urinary tract is infected.
In conclusion, we note that the urine collected correctly for analysis guarantees the reliability of the results. And their deciphering will help you to understand whether everything is in order with your child's health, or an additional examination is required.