Index
The urine test in pregnancy is indicated to diagnose any problem that may affect the patient’s urinary and renal system . It is a painless and easily collected procedure that can provide information about serious illnesses, such as kidney problems.
Types of Urinalysis
There are three types of tests that can be performed using urine not only during pregnancy but in general, being type 1, urine culture and 24-hour . There is no need for any type of preparation before, such as fasting.
The most conventional and requested by doctors is type 1 or Urine EAS as it is called in laboratories that can analyze the following elements.
- Glucose
- Protein
- Ketones
- Bilirubin
- Leukocytes
- PH and urina
In addition to density, nitrite , blood residues, mucus or any other foreign substance found in the urine, it will result in an indication of the patient’s problem. If nitrite, leukocytes or blood are found, the test will show a possible urinary infection.
That must be proven through the urine culture test, which is the only test capable of proving the existence of the infection. The collection is indicated in the first urine of the day, but it can also be performed with urine at any time of the day, depending on the laboratory.
It requires 40 to 50 ml that must be stored directly in a proper plastic pot, discarding the first jet that leaves because it contains impurities in the urinary channel.
It is advisable to perform the collection after cleaning the genitalia and in the laboratory so that the material is delivered next. If performed at the residence, the urine must be delivered within a period of up to two hours, otherwise it must be discarded for analysis.
The pregnancy urine test will follow in two stages, one through chemical reaction and the second through analysis of urine drops under the microscope. Using a microscope, it is possible to detect the presence of substances that will indicate if there is something wrong.
In addition to recommending urine tests to diagnose infections and being part of routine prenatal tests , urine can be used to detect and confirm a possible pregnancy. Conventional tests such as type 1 do not confirm pregnancy, and a specific test must be performed to check the amount of HCG hormones in the urine.
In order for the urine test to detect and give a correct result, it is recommended that it be performed with a minimum menstrual delay of at least seven days. With each passing day, the amount of HCG increases which causes the urine test to detect the substance. But in case of negative with delay the advisable is to repeat the exam within one week or to confirm it through a beta HCG blood test.
Reference Values for Type 1 Urine Examination
As we have already mentioned above, if substances such as leukocytes, nitrites and even blood residues are found in the urine, it is a sign of an apparent infectious condition, but which should be investigated with complementary exams. The references serve to inform normality and when higher values are found that there is actually a reagent infection.
- Density between 1.005 and 1.030
- PH from 5.5 to 7.5
- Absence of protein, ketones, bilirubin, leukocytes, glucose, nitrite and blood.
Density
The density is compared to reference water values, which being pure equals 1000. So if the result is 1.008, the urine is well diluted and is considered healthy. If it is close to the maximum 1.030, the urine is very concentrated and may indicate dehydration.
PH
The PH measures the acidity of the urine , as the kidney does the work of eliminating acids from the body. The PH normality reference is 5.5 to 7.0, when a value lower than normal is found, it may be an indication of a problem in the renal tubules.
When verified higher than the reference, it may be an indication of the existence of a bacterium that is alkalinizing the urine or even the ingestion of acidic foods and some medications. Should be investigated with complementary exams and medical analysis.
Glucose
The glucose is normally filtered by the kidney and returned to the blood, so as found in the urine may be signs of problems in the renal tubules and it is diabetic person normally loses glucose in urine. The presence of the substance indicates excess blood glucose or kidney malfunction.
When a substance is found in the urine, the doctor will order additional tests to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment will be indicated for the specific problem, and the use of medications on their own is not recommended.
See also: Urinary Infection During Pregnancy – Now What?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
