Suitable Specimen Types
- Plain Spot Urine
Specimen Transport
Send to reference laboratory frozen via hospital transport.Sample Processing in Laboratory
Usual. Freeze upon reciept.Sample Preparation
Freeze on reciept.Turnaround Time
1 weekSample Stability
-20 ºCMetabolic Screen (Urine) (includes UOA, UAA and URAND)
General Information
The urine metabolic screen is a series of simple tests that can be used to suggest particular metabolic disorders.
The screen includes:
- Urine organic acids
- Urine qualitative amino acids
- Urine spot tests
Urine spot tests include:
Urine creatinine; Urine labstix for glucose, protein, ketones, nitrite and pH; Ferric chloride (FECL) test for phenylpyruvic acid; Dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) test for keto compounds; Thin layer chromatography screen for methylmalonic acid (MMA); Cyanide/nitroprusside (CNP) test for cystine/homocystine; Clinitest for reducing sugars.
Any significant results will automatically trigger further investigations, if sufficient sample is available.
Patient Preparation
None
Notes
A request for a urine “metabolic screen” will normally be interpreted by the laboratory as requiring urine amino acids, organic acids and “spot tests”. However if the clinical information supplied suggests other tests could be appropriate these may be added by the Duty Metabolic Biochemist. Results will normally be returned via the local laboratory at the requesting hospital.
Reference Range
Provided by reference Laboratory.
Specifications
- EQA Status: No EQA scheme available