Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy)
Understanding Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy)
What is Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy)?
A Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy) test examines the appearance, concentration, and content of the urine. It is done if the doctor suspects diseases such as kidney disorders, diabetes, etc. This test is also done as a part of routine medical examination, pregnancy checkup, or preparation before surgery.
Urine is the body’s liquid waste made when the kidneys filter out toxins from the blood. It is made up of water, salt, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, and some chemicals. Any changes in the color, odor, or constituents of urine may be indicative of certain health conditions.
A Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy) examines the urine’s color, appearance, pH & specific gravity, and checks for the presence of blood cells, crystals, bacteria, parasites, and some other constituents. Your doctor may advise this test if you show symptoms such as abdominal pain, back pain, painful or frequent urination, blood in the urine, or other urinary problems. A Urine R/M test is also used to detect, manage, and monitor the progress of ongoing treatment of different conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), prostate infections, urinary tract injuries, and metabolic disorders like diabetes, kidney stones or diseases, and liver disease.
Before your test, make sure you’ve drunk enough water to be able to submit a urine sample for testing. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking certain medications and supplements before the test as they may affect the test results. A mid-stream urine sample should be collected into a sterile container provided by the sample collection professional. Women are advised not to give the sample during the menstrual period unless prescribed as that can interfere with certain test results.
Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between different labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. Narrate your complete medical history to help the doctor correlate your clinical and laboratory findings. The results will help them determine your medical condition and formulate your overall treatment plan.
What is Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy) used for?
A Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy) test is done:
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As a part of routine medical checkups or pregnancy checkups.
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If you have symptoms such as stomach pain, back pain, frequent or painful urination, blood in your urine, or other urinary problems.
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To detect urinary tract infections and diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease.
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To monitor the effectiveness of ongoing treatment.
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As a preparatory checkup before surgery.
What does Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy) measure?
Contains 14 testsA Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy) test involves gross, chemical, and microscopic evaluation of the urine sample.
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Gross examination: It involves the visual examination of the urine sample for color and appearance. Normally, the urine color ranges from colorless or pale yellow to deep amber, depending on the urine’s concentration. Things such as medications, supplements, and some foods such as beetroot can affect the color of your urine. However, unusual urine color can also be a sign of disease.
In appearance, the urine sample may be clear or cloudy. A clear appearance is indicative of healthy urine. However, the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, etc. may result in cloudy urine, indicating conditions such as dehydration, UTIs, kidney stones, etc. Some other factors such as sperm and skin cells may also result in a cloudy appearance but are harmless.
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Chemical examination: It examines the chemical nature of the urine sample using special test strips called dipsticks. These test strips are dipped into the urine sample and they change color when they come in contact with specific substances. The degree of color change gives an estimate of the amount of the substance present. Some of the common things detected include protein, urine pH, ketones, glucose, specific gravity, blood, nitrites, and urobilinogen among others.
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Microscopic examination: It involves the examination of the urine sample under the microscope for casts, crystals, cells, bacteria, and yeast.