ABNORMAL CONSTITUENTS OF URINE

Many of the pathological constituents are present in small amounts in normal urine but
they escape detection due to the low sensitivity of the method employed. The
concentration of these constituents in urine are increased markedly in different
pathological conditions.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

Please Refer the Previous Handouts on Normal Urine Analysis

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

1. TEST FOR REDUCING SUGARS

BENEDICTS TEST

To 5 ml of Benedict’s reagent in a test tube add 8 drops of urine. Mix well and boil it in a
water bath for 5 minutes or else warm it under flame for 2 minutes. Note the colour and
interpret your result using the following data.

S. No Colour/Observation Concentration of Sugar (g %) Conventional Notation

1 No Characteristic Change Nil -----

2 Greenish Colour 0.1-0.5g% +

3 Yellowish orange 0.5-1.0g% ++

4 Red 1.0-2.0g% +++

5 Brick Red More than 2g% ++++

2. TEST FOR PROTEINS

SULPHOSALICYLIC ACID TEST

To 5 ml of urine in a test tube add 1 ml of sulphosalicylic acid. Formation of White

precipitate indicates the presence of proteins.

3. TEST FOR KETONE BODIES

ROTHERA’S TEST

Take 5ml of urine, add two spatulas of solid ammonium Sulphate. Mix well and then add
5 drops of sodium nitroprusside solution, mix well again and add 2ml of ammonia.
Appearance of purple ring indicates the presence of ketone bodies.

4. TEST FOR BILE PIGMENTS

FOUCHET’S TEST

Take 5ml of urine in a test tube add equal volume of Barium Chloride solution. Filter the
solution using filter paper and dry the filter paper and add Fouchet’s reagent. Formation
of Green colour indicates the presence of bile pigments.

5. TEST FOR BILE SALTS

HAY’S TEST

Take 5 ml of urine in a test tube, sprinkle sulphur powder to the test tube. In normal
urine sulphur remains on the surface but sinks down in the presence of bile salts.

6. TEST FOR BLOOD

BENZIDINE TEST

Take 3ml of saturated Benzidine solution in a test tube, add 3ml of urine followed by 1
ml of hydrogen peroxide. Appearance of green or blue colour indicates the presence of
blood