Urine Urobilinogen

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Category: Urine proteins, protein metabolites and pigments.
Subcategory: Pigments.
Material studied: Urine.
Estimated cost of test: $5.00.
Patient time for test: From 2-3 minutes to 2-3 hours, depending on test.
Reliability of test results: Good.
Available as home self-test? Yes, as Bili-Labstix and N-Multistix.
Note: Test helps assess liver and biliary-tract function.

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BEFORE THE TEST

Purpose of test:

• Helps determine if liver impairment is caused by liver-cell disease, obstruction of bile ducts or increased destruction of red blood cells.
• Helps confirm diagnosis of liver and blood disorders.

Where is test performed?

• Commercial laboratory, hospital, doctor's office.

Who performs test?

• Lab technician, nurse, doctor.

Risks and precautions:

• Specimen must be sent to the laboratory immediately.

Patient preparation:

• Activity - No changes necessary.
• Diet - Do not eat bananas for 48 hours before the test.
• Medicines - Inform the person performing the test if you have recently taken any medications listed under Taking these drugs may affect test results. You may be asked not to take this medication before the test.
• Disrobing - None required.

THE TEST

Sensory factors:

• Seeing - Urine color varies greatly, whether you're healthy or ill. Tell the technician, nurse or doctor if urine appears red, cloudy, smoky or has any other strange appearance or color.
• Smelling - Urine may have a noticeably abnormal odor if it is concentrated. Many drugs and foods affect the smell and other characteristics of urine. Report any unusual odors to the technician, nurse or doctor.
• Feeling - Collecting a urine specimen should not cause pain. If it does, notify the technician, nurse or doctor.
• Other senses (touch, hearing, taste) - Not affected.

Equipment used:

• Sterile urine container.
• Reagent strips.

Description of test:

• Most laboratories prefer random urine specimens. Some request a 2-hour specimen collected between 1 A.M. and 3 P.M. (when urobilinogen levels are highest).
• If you use the available self-test, follow directions provided by the manufacturer. Test urine immediately after collecting the specimen.

AFTER THE TEST

Immediate post-test care:

• None.

Activity after test:

• Resume taking any medications that were withheld before the test.
• Return to pretest activities right away.
• Resume normal diet.

Time before test results available:

• Test requires only a few minutes in the laboratory. Time before results are reported to the doctor or patient varies from a few minutes to a few days.

TEST RESULTS

Test values:

• Test results are determined by spectrophotometry and reagent strips.

Normal values:

• Women - 0.1 to 1.1 Ehrlich units/2 hours.
• Men - 0.3 to 2.1 Ehrlich units/2 hours.

What HIGH or INCREASED may indicate:

• Cirrhosis.
• Hemolytic jaundice.
• Hepatitis.

What LOW or DECREASED may indicate:

• Congenital enzymatic jaundice.
• Treatment with drugs that acidify urine, such as ammonium chloride or vitamin C.

Taking these drugs may affect test results:

• Aminosalicylic acid (PAS).
• Ammonium chloride.
• Anti-pyrine.
• Bromsulphalein (BSP).
• Cascara.
• Chloramphenicol.
• Chlorpromazine.
• 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid.
• Mandelate.
• Para-aminosalicylic acid.
• Phenazopyridine.
• Phenothiazines.
• Procaine.
• Sulfonamides.
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Other factors that may affect test results:

• Urine that is highly alkaline, caused by acetazolamide or sodium bicarbonate.
• Eating bananas within 48 hours of the test.

From the Complete Guide to Medical Tests by H. Winter Griffith, M.D. © 1988 by Fisher Books; electronic rights by Medical Data Exchange.