Both myoglobin and haemoglobin contain haem, and are known as the
haem pigments
.
The urine haem pigments test is a sensitive dipstick which detects the presence / absence of both myoglobin and haemoglobin.
If a urine myoglobin is requested, the haem pigments test will first be performed. If positive, Urine myoglobin is no longer offered, as there is no validated method available. Suggest serum/plasma myoglobin instead, as raised serum/plasma myoglobin level is better predictive marker of acute renal failure than urine myoglobin level
Haemoglobin in the urine can be due either to in vivo haemolysis, or to haematuria with lysis of red cells within the urinary tract.