Other compounds in Urine

Overview

"Other compounds in urine" refers to a group of non-routine or miscellaneous substances detected on a urinalysis beyond basic measurements (pH, specific gravity, protein, glucose). Commonly screened items include bilirubin, urobilinogen, nitrite, leukocyte esterase, ketones, blood/hemoglobin/myoglobin, and drug metabolites or unusual crystals. The test measures presence and approximate amount (often by dipstick or microscopic exam) to help detect liver disease, hemolysis, urinary tract infection, renal injury, metabolic derangements (ketoacidosis), rhabdomyolysis, or toxic exposures. Testing is prompted by jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain, dysuria, frequency, fever, unexplained muscle pain, altered mental status, polyuria, or suspected poisoning. Results vary with age (neonates have physiologic bilirubin/urobilinogen patterns), sex (higher UTI risk in females), hydration, pregnancy, and renal concentrating ability.

Test Preparation

• No special preparation is required

Why Do I Need This Test

• Profile: included in a standard Urine Analysis (urinalysis) and may be part of targeted toxicology or metabolic panels.
• Symptoms: jaundice, dark urine, dysuria, fever, flank pain, muscle weakness/pain, polyuria, confusion.
• Diagnoses/monitor: liver disease, hemolysis, UTI, diabetic ketoacidosis, rhabdomyolysis, drug/toxin exposure.
• Reasons for abnormal levels: liver obstruction or hepatocellular damage, hemolysis, bacterial infection, uncontrolled diabetes, muscle breakdown, recent drug use.
• Biological meaning: abnormal findings point to organ dysfunction, infection, metabolic imbalance, or contamination.
• Lifestyle/factors: diet, dehydration, medications, supplements, recent exercise, alcohol, and poor sample collection can alter results.
• Family history: inherited metabolic liver or hemolytic disorders, kidney disease, or familial hyperlipidemia/toxic exposures may prompt testing.

Understanding Test Results

• Bilirubin positive (any detectable bilirubin on dipstick) indicates conjugated hyperbilirubinemia think hepatocellular injury or biliary obstruction; requires liver function evaluation and imaging.
• Urobilinogen >1.0 mg/dL (markedly >2 mg/dL) suggests increased bilirubin breakdown (hemolysis) or hepatocellular disease; absent or very low urobilinogen with positive bilirubin favors obstructive jaundice.
• Nitrite positive indicates probable gram-negative bacterial UTI (eg, E.
• coli).
• A negative nitrite does not exclude UTI.
• Leukocyte esterase trace/positive signals pyuria; together with nitrite or clinical symptoms strongly suggests UTI.
• Any detectable urine glucose (glycosuria) is abnormal and suggests hyperglycemia exceeding renal threshold or proximal tubular dysfunction.
• Ketones positive (trace to large) indicate ketosis/ketoacidosis from fasting, uncontrolled diabetes, or starvation; large amounts require urgent evaluation.
• Dipstick positive for blood with RBCs on microscopy hematuria (stones, infection, glomerular disease, malignancy).
• Dipstick positive but no RBCs myoglobinuria/hemoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis or hemolysis) check CK and plasma hemoglobin.
• Drug/toxin metabolites present indicate exposure and require correlation with history and confirmatory testing.
• False positives/negatives can occur with concentrated or very dilute urine, certain medications, high vitamin C, improper collection, or interfering substances; abnormal findings typically prompt confirmatory microscopy, culture, blood testing, or imaging.

FAQs