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. |