Specimen Collection
Specimen should reach the laboratory within 2 hours.
Urobilinogen is light sensitive- must be protected from light.
10 mL Collect Urine (Random)
Reference Intervals
This is a qualitative test, reported as:
-
Decreased
-
Normal
-
Slightly increased
-
Moderately increased
-
Strongly increased
Assay Method
Principle:
Qualitative colour production
Reagent:
In-house reagents
Analyser:
Visual inspection
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation
Bilirubin is conjugated to glucuronate in the liver and then excreted into the gut lumen, where it is broken down by bacteria to urobilinogen (stercobilinogen). Some of this is reabsorbed, and is returned to the blood via the portal circulation. A small proportion of urobilinogen is excreted in the urine.
Increased when large amounts of bilirubin are being excreted into the gut lumen. An increased bilirubin load occurs with intravascular haemolysis, haemolytic anaemia, or severe bruising. Early hepatocellular damage from infection or drugs will also reduce the liver's ability to reabsorb and re-excrete urobilinogen, leading to an increase in urine output.
Decreased in biliary tract obstruction.
This test is sometimes useful to determine the cause of a dark urine.
Contact Information
Emails to
chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz
will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.
If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.
If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via
Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).
Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.
After-hours
: contact
Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours.
Dr Samarina Musaad
(Clinical Lead)
:
SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz
ext. 22402
Dr Cam Kyle:
CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz
ext 22052
Dr Weldon Chiu:
WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz
ext. 23427
Dr Campbell Heron:
CHeron@adhb.govt.nz
ext. 23427
Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe:
Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz
ext. 23427