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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.