Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 10

An outpatient urine specimen was delivered to the laboratory at 0800 and placed on the counter in the Urinalysis department. The medical laboratory scientist performed urinalysis on the specimen at 1130. The following results were abnormal:

Clarity: Cloudy

pH: 9.0

Nitrite: Positive

The patient was a known diabetic; however, the glucose result was negative.

a. What could be a possible cause for the abnormal results?

b. Where would the information concerning what should have been done with this specimen be found and the criteria for rejection?

c. What QA procedure may have detected this error?

d. What form will need to be completed for this scenario?

e. How might this affect this patient’s care?

f. How will the corrected results be documented?

Step 1 of 6

a.

Possible cause for abnormal results:

• All urine specimens must be examined within 2 hours of arrival to laboratory

• The specimen testing was delayed, which resulted in abnormal results