Reducing substances (urine)
| Category | Biochemistry >> Metabolic |
|---|---|
| Test background |
Urinary reducing substances include glucose, fructose, galactose, lactose, pentose and maltose, as well as amino acids, cysteine, tyrosine, homogentisic acid, ketone bodies, ascorbic acid and many drugs. A positive screen for reducing substances in the urine should be followed by sugar chromatography to identify specific carbohydrates present and provide a quantitative estimation. |
| Clinical Indications |
Neonatal/infantile presentation of generalised failure to thrive symptomology, chronic diarrhoea, hepatic dysfunction and developmental delay (often global) |
| Reference range | See report |
| Sample & container required | Random urine in universal container |
| Sample volume | 5 mL |
| Transport storage | Transport samples to laboratory immediately. Samples from outside NWLP should be sent frozen. |
| Turnaround time | 1 week |
| Notes | A positive screen for reducing substances in the urine should be followed by sugar chromatography to identify specific carbohydrates present and provide a qualitative estimation. |