RENAL

Demonstrate the procedure of urinalysis to students using normal sample.

1. Introduce yourself, explain procedure to patient and obtain consent.
2. Prepare equipment.
3. Be aware of test limitations if performing a pregnancy test.
4. Check that reagent strip has not passed expiry date.
5. Ask patient when urine sample was passed.
6. Put gloves on.
7. Observe colour and opacity.
8. Remove reagent strip from bottle, replace lid immediately and check that test pads are the correct colour at the start.
9. Dip the reagent strip into the sample of urine, ensuring that all the test pads are covered.
10. Remove reagent strip immediately, as you do so drag the back of the test strip against the sample pot to remove excess urine.
11. Replace lid on urine sample bottle.
12. Hold the stick so the urine does not run into individual test squares, wait the appropriate time before reading each result.
13. Use stopwatch to record time accurately and hold colour key next to the reagent strip.
14. Decide if urine sample needs to be sent to laboratory or if the patient needs to do a MSU and then dispose of reagent strip and gloves.
15. Dispose of urine in sluice or return to patient.
16. Wash hands.
17. Explain results to patient and decide what further action is necessary.
18. Record results accurately in notes.

Allow students to practice the technique according to the procedure demonstrated above. Use the two abnormal samples.

If time, discuss with students the process of explaining to patients the process of taking an MSU specimen as below. Allow them to practice on each other.

1. Introduce yourself, explain procedure to patient and obtain consent.
2. Advise the patient to wash their hands.
3. Supply the patient with a wide-mouthed sterile container.
4. In men, advise them to retract the foreskin and clean the skin around the urethra with water.
5. In women, advise them to hold open the labia and clean with water in a downwards motion, front to back. Continue to hold the labia open if possible.
6. Tell the patient to pass some urine into the toilet.
7. Then, without stopping the flow of urine, catch some urine in the sterile container and place lid on securely.
8. Finish off by passing the rest of the urine into the toilet.
9. Advise the patient to wash their hands afterwards and bring the sample back to you.
10. Label the sample and complete a microbiology form with relevant clinical information.
11. Send sample to the laboratory straight away as per local NHS policy.
12. Document in the patients records.