Does your head spin when you see the UFR Report?

Ah, when you pick up a UFR report, you think, "Oh, what's in this?", right? That's often the case. Seeing each word and number like that can be a bit daunting. But don't worry! Let's see what these things really mean, simply.

First, we look at things that are visible to the eye! (Macroscopic)

Imagine the lab staff taking the bottle of urine you gave them and just looking at it at first. It's like looking at a glass of water.

What does color mean? (Colour)

• Normal: Pale yellow if you're drinking enough water. If you're not drinking enough water , it may turn a little darker amber. That's okay.
• If there is a difference:
  • If it's a little reddish, it could be blood (but that can happen even after eating beetroot 😉).
  • Dark brown color raises a slight suspicion that it could be a liver problem.
  • Some medications change color even after taking them.

Is the water clear as glass? Is it cloudy? (Appearance/Clarity)

• Normal: A good urine sample is clear, like water.
• If there is a difference: If the urine is cloudy/turbid, like when you put a little soil in a glass of water, it could mean that there is something else in it - like pus , bacteria, or cell fragments. This is often a sign of an infection.

Is it like water? Is it thick? (Specific Gravity - Sp. Gr.)

• This measures how 'thick' (thickness) your urine is compared to water. When your body is dehydrated, your urine becomes thicker, and when your body is dehydrated, it becomes thinner.
• If there is a difference: If this is unusually thick (high value), diabetes may be suspected. If it is too watery (low value), it is necessary to check whether the kidneys are not concentrating the urine properly.

Next, what you see with that color-changing piece of paper (Chemical/Dipstick)

Now, they put that special piece of paper (dipstick) in the urine and look at it. They can learn a lot more details by watching how the color changes in different places.

Acid or basic? (pH)

• It measures whether the urine is more acidic or more basic. This changes with what you eat and drink. It also helps to get an idea of ​​things like urinary stones and infections.

Why is it not good to have protein? (Protein)

• A healthy person should not have protein in their urine (Negative/Nil).
• A slight positive/trace means that there is most likely something wrong with the kidneys, especially with the filter.

What does it mean to have sugar (glucose)? (Glucose)

• This cannot be present in urine at all (Negative/Nil).
• Positive means there is a strong suspicion of diabetes . When sugar in the body increases, the kidneys cannot reabsorb it all and it goes into the urine.

How do ketones come about? (Ketones)

• When the body doesn't have enough sugar (when diabetes is out of control , when you're fasting for a long time, when you're vomiting), the body burns fat for energy. A byproduct of this is the production of ketones .
• Usually it is negative. If it is, you need to find the reason.

What does bilirubin / urobilinogen mean in the liver? (Bilirubin / Urobilinogen)

• These two values ​​directly indicate liver function. If there are abnormalities in these, liver disease should be considered.

Is there really blood? (Blood)

• Even if the urine does not appear red, this chemical test can detect the presence of even a small amount of blood.
• If present (positive), there may be infections, urinary stones, or kidney problems.

Two signs of infection (Leukocyte Esterase & Nitrites)

• The presence of both (Leukocyte Esterase and Nitrites) is often a good indication of a urinary tract infection ( UTI ), because during infections, white blood cells (Leukocytes) and certain bacteria (which produce Nitrites) are present in large numbers.

Finally, looking for small things under a microscope (Microscopic)

Finally, the urine is centrifuged and the sediment collected at the bottom is collected and examined under a microscope. This is where the smallest things that are invisible to the naked eye are captured.

Are there a lot of red blood cells (RBC)? (Red Blood Cells)

• Even though the eye does not appear red, a few red cells (normally 0-3) can be seen under a microscope.
• But if there are more than that (the number is listed in the report), it means that there is definitely blood loss.

Are white blood cells (WBC) in a fight? (White Blood Cells / Pus Cells)

• These are the soldiers in our body! These cells (also called mast cells) multiply when we fight an infection.
• Normal is less than 5. If there are many, it means you are fighting an infection!

What are those epithelial cells that have escaped from the walls?

• These are normal cells that just come off the walls of the urinary tract. It's okay to have a few.
• However, if there are too many of certain types (such as renal tubular cells), it may indicate some damage to the kidneys.

Why do you look at 'casts' like jelly tubes?

• These are a little special. These 'tubes' are formed by proteins or cells joining together in the shape of tiny tubes inside the kidneys.
• Different types of casts (like RBC casts, WBC casts) tell about different types of kidney disease. The presence of these is often a sign of a kidney problem.

Why do 'crystals' like salt grains appear?

• Like sugar cubes and salt cubes, they are small lumps formed by the accumulation of chemicals dissolved in urine.
• Some types (like Calcium Oxalate) are okay to have in small amounts. But if there are a lot of them, especially certain types, it can increase the risk of kidney stones.

Are there any small organisms (bacteria, yeast)? (Bacteria, Yeast, Parasites)

• These microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, parasites) cannot exist in normal urine.
• If there is, it is a clear sign of an infection (like a UTI or yeast infection).

So, how do you make sense of all this together?

Now you see how much you can find in a UFR report, right? But remember this: Don't just see one thing in the report and think to yourself, "Okay, I have this disease!"

When a doctor looks at this report, they take all of these results together, compare them with your symptoms, your medical history, and possibly other test results, and determine the exact condition.

This is exactly how the sample is given!

To get the best results, the way you urinate is also important. Your doctor or lab will tell you, but it usually goes like this:

• First-morning urine: If possible, give some of the first urine you pass in the morning. It is best because it contains concentrated substances.
• The middle part: The bottle should only hold the middle part of the urine that comes out after you start urinating. Not the beginning or the end.
• Clean: Before urinating, wash and dry the area (especially for girls) with water only. Otherwise, germs may spread outside and distort the result.

The last thing to say is... (the most important thing!)

Okay, now you have a little idea to read a UFR report, right? It's like a story that tells us about what's going on inside our bodies. But don't forget, this is only a hint . To understand the full story and know exactly what to do if there is a problem, you should definitely see a doctor and show them the report. Then everything will be fine!

It's a good idea to share this story with others!