Urine

Description  

The 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) urine test is used to help diagnose and monitor carcinoid tumors. 5-HIAA is the primary metabolite of serotonin that is excreted in the urine. 5 -hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) is the primary metabolite of serotonin, a chemical substance (neurotransmitter) that transmits messages between nerve cells. This test measures the amount of 5-HIAA in the urine. Serotonin is produced as needed by the nervous system, mainly the brain, but also special cells in the bronchial tubes (lungs) and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It helps transmit nerve impulses and constrict blood vessels, participates in the wake-sleep cycle, and affects mood. Ordinarily, only small varying amounts of 5-HIAA are present in the urine. Concentrations of 5-HIAA may be significantly increased when a person has a carcinoid tumor that produces serotonin. 

Sample:  Urine 

Reference:  Less than 10 mg/24hrs 

Frequency:  Once a week 

Description 

Amylase is one of several enzymes produced by the pancreas to help digest carbohydrates. This test measures the amount of amylase in the blood or urine or sometimes in peritoneal fluid. Amylase is secreted through the pancreatic duct into the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), where it helps break down dietary carbohydrates. It is also produced by other organs, particularly the salivary glands. Amylase is usually present in the blood and urine in small quantities. When cells in the pancreas are injured, as happens with pancreatitis, or when the pancreatic duct is blocked by a gallstone or by a pancreatic tumor in rare cases, increased amounts of amylase are released into the blood. This increases concentrations of amylase in the blood and also in the urine as amylase is eliminated from the blood through the urine. 

Sample:  Urine 

Reference:  Less than 600 U/l 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

The Bence Jones protein (BJP) test measures the level of BJP in your urine. These proteins are not present in healthy urine samples. Usually they are a sign of multiple myeloma. Your bone marrow is found in the center of your larger bones. It makes red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. Multiple myeloma is a condition where a type of white blood cell is produced in excess. Normally white blood cells make many different types of antibodies. They play an important role in your immune system. However, when you have multiple myeloma, things change. One white blood cell line grows out of control. It produces only one type of antibody. Worse, these cells crowd out the normal cells. This leaves your body vulnerable to illness. Multiple myeloma is most common in patients over 60 years old. Patients can go without symptoms for many years. Once symptoms do appear, they may at first seem to indicate other conditions. Therefore, tests must be used to diagnose multiple myeloma. One such test is the BJP test. 

Sample:  Urine 

Reference:  – – – 

Frequency:  – – –  

Description 

Calcium is the most abundant and one of the most important minerals in the body. It is essential for cell signaling and the proper functioning of muscles, nerves, and the heart. Calcium is needed for blood clotting and is crucial for the formation, density, and maintenance of bones. This test measures the amount of calcium in the blood or urine. 

Sample:  Blood (serum), urine 

Reference:  Between 2.15 mmol/l and 2.60 mmol/l 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

Chloride is an electrolyte. It is a negatively charged ion that works with other electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium, and bicarbonate, to help regulate the amount of fluid in the body and maintain the acid-base balance. Chloride is present in all body fluids but is found in the highest concentration in the blood and in the fluid outside of the body’s cells. Most of the time, chloride concentrations mirror those of sodium, increasing and decreasing for the same reasons and in direct relationship to sodium. When there is an acid-base imbalance, however, blood chloride levels can change independently of sodium levels as chloride acts as a buffer. It helps to maintain electrical neutrality at the cellular level by moving into or out of the cells as needed. This test helps determine if there is a problem with your body’s electrolyte balance or acid-base balance and to monitor treatment. 

Sample:  Blood (serum), urine 

Reference:  For blood (serum): between 98 mmol/l and 107 mmol/l 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

This test measures the amount of creatinine in the blood and/or urine. Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscles from the breakdown of a compound called creatine. Creatine is part of the cycle that produces energy needed to contract muscles. Both creatine and creatinine are produced by the body at a relatively constant rate. Almost all creatinine is excreted by the kidneys, so blood levels are usually a good indicator of how well the kidneys are working. The test is performed to determine if your kidneys are functioning normally and to monitor treatment for kidney disease. 

Sample:  Blood (serum), urine 

Reference  

• Female: between 6.0 mg/dl and 11.0 mg/dl 
• Male: between 7.0 mg/dl and 13.0 mg/dl 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

A creatinine clearance test is used to help evaluate the rate and efficiency of kidney filtration. It is used to help detect and diagnose kidney dysfunction and/or the presence of decreased blood flow to the kidneys. This test measures creatinine levels in both a sample of blood and a sample of urine from a 24-hour urine collection. The results are used to calculate the amount of creatinine that has been cleared from the blood and passed into the urine. This calculation allows for a general evaluation of the amount of blood that is being filtered by the kidneys in a 24-hour time period. Creatinine is a waste product produced in the muscles from the breakdown of a compound called creatine. Creatine is part of the cycle that produces energy needed to contract muscles. The amount of creatinine produced in the body is dependent on muscle mass and is relatively constant for an individual. 

Sample:  Urine 

Reference:  – – – 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

This test measures the amounts of metanephrine and normetanephrine that are excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period. Metanephrine and normetanephrine are the inactive metabolites of the catecholamines epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. It is primarily used to help detect and rule out pheochromocytomas in symptomatic people. Catecholamines are a group of similar hormones produced in the medulla (central portion) of the adrenal glands. The adrenal gland is a small, triangular organ located on top of each kidney. Since catecholamines secretion tends to fluctuate over time, a 24-hour urine test for metanephrines or catecholamines may detect excess production that is missed with the blood test. 

Sample:  Urine 

Reference:  Between 20 mg/24hrs and 350 mg/24hrs 

Frequency:  Once a week 

Description 

The urine albumin test or albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) is used to screen people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, which put them at an increased risk of developing kidney disease. Albumin is a protein made by the liver. The urine albumin test detects and measures the amount of albumin in the urine. A small amount of albumin in the urine is an early indicator of kidney damage. In the past, these small amounts of albumin were referred to as “microalbumin” and some health practitioners may continue to use the term, although it is being phased out. A urine albumin test is used to screen people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, who are at high risk for kidney damage. It can detect small amounts of albumin that escape from the kidneys into the urine several years before significant kidney damage becomes apparent. 

Sample:  Urine 

Reference:  Less than 20 mg/l 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

This test measures the amount of potassium in the blood. Potassium is an electrolyte that is vital to cell metabolism and muscle function. Potassium, along with other electrolytes, helps regulate the amount of fluid in the body, stimulates muscle contraction, and maintains a stable acid-base balance. Potassium is present in all body fluids, but most potassium is found within your cells. Only about 2% is present in fluids outside the cells and in the liquid part of the blood (called serum or plasma). Because the blood concentration of potassium is so small, minor changes can have significant consequences. If potassium levels are too low or too high, there can be serious health consequences; a person may be at risk for developing shock, respiratory failure, or heart rhythm disturbances. An abnormal potassium level can alter the function of neuromuscular tissue; for example, the heart muscle may lose its ability to contract. 

Sample:  Blood (serum), urine 

Reference:  Between 25 mmol/24hrs and 100 mmol/24hrs 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

This test measures the level of sodium in the blood. Sodium is an electrolyte that is vital to normal body processes, including nerve and muscle function. Sodium, along with other electrolytes, helps cells function normally and helps regulate the amount of fluid in the body. Sodium is present in all body fluids but is found in the highest concentration in the blood and in the fluid outside of the body’s cells. This extracellular sodium, as well as all body water, is regulated by the kidney. 

Sample:  Blood (serum); urine 

Reference:  For urine: between 40 mmol/24hrs and 200 mmol/24hrs 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

The total protein test measures the total amount of two classes of proteins found in the fluid portion of your blood. These are albumin and globulin. Albumin helps prevent fluid from leaking out of blood vessels. Globulins are an important part of your immune system. Proteins are important parts of all cells and tissues. This test is performed as part of a general health checkup, to determine the nutritional status or to screen for and help diagnose certain liver and kidney disorders as well as other diseases. 

Sample:  Urine 

Reference:  Between 6.4 and 8.3 g/dl 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

This test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood. Urea is produced in the liver when protein is broken into its component parts (amino acids) and metabolized. This process produces ammonia, which is then converted into the less toxic waste product urea. Urea is released by the liver into the bloodstream and is carried to the kidneys, where it is filtered out of the blood and excreted in the urine. Since this is an ongoing process, there is usually a small but stable amount of urea nitrogen in the blood. 

Sample:  Blood (serum), urine 

Reference:  Between 13 mg/dl and 43 mg/dl 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

Uric acid is produced by the breakdown of purines. Purines are nitrogen-containing compounds found in the cells of the body, including our DNA. As cells get old and die, they break down, releasing purines into the blood. To a lesser extent, purines may come from the digestion of certain foods, such as liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas and certain alcoholic drinks, primarily beer. Most uric acid is removed from the body by the kidneys and is excreted in the urine, with the remainder eliminated in the stool. This test measures the level of uric acid in the blood or urine. If too much uric acid is produced or not enough is excreted, it can accumulate in the body, causing increased levels in the blood (hyperuricemia). The presence of excess uric acid can cause gout, a condition characterized by inflammation of the joints due to the formation of uric acid crystals in the joint (synovial) fluid. Excess uric acid can also be deposited in tissues such as the kidney, leading to kidney stones or kidney failure. The accumulation of too much uric acid is due to either increased production or decreased elimination, or a combination of both. Elevated levels of uric acid can occur when there is an increase in cell death, as seen with some cancer therapies or, rarely, as an inherited tendency to overproduce uric acid. Decreased elimination of uric acid is often a result of impaired kidney function due to kidney disease. 

Sample:  Blood (serum), urine 

Reference  

• Female: between 6.0 mg/dl and 11.0 mg/dl 
• Male: between 7.0 mg/dl and 13.0 mg/dl 

Frequency:  Daily 

Description 

This is a urine test to see whether you have a high level of the chemical oxalate in your urine. Oxalate is a natural end product of metabolism in the body and should be expelled through your urine. If your oxalate levels are too high, the excess oxalate can combine with calcium to form kidney stones. These stones are hard masses of chemicals that can get stuck in the urinary tract and commonly cause severe pain. Calcium-oxalate kidney stones are the most common type. Increased levels of oxalate may be a result of eating foods high in oxalate, or absorbing or making too much oxalate. 

Sample:  Urine 

Reference:  Less than 40 mg/24u 

Frequency:  – – –