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Symptoms » Blood in urine » Diagnostic Tests
 

Diagnostic Tests for Blood in urine

Diagnostic Test list for Blood in urine:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Blood in urine includes:

  • Physical examination
    • Examine for signs of anemia
    • Temperature may suggest urinary tract infection, lupus erythematosus, infective endocarditis
    • Blood pressure e.g. if high blood pressure may suggest glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidneys, lupus erythematosus
    • Cardiovascular examination to look for signs of infective endocarditis which maycause emboli to kidney e.g. fever, heart murmur, small hemorrhages on the nails
    • Abdominal palpation for mass in flanks:
      • E.g. bilateral flank masses may suggestpolycystic kidneys and hydronephrosis
      • E.g. unilateral flank mass may suggest a hypernephroma (renal cell carcinoma), unilateral hydronephrosis, solitary kidney cyst or renal vein thrombosis
    • Examine for bladder tenderness or enlargement - which may suggest prostatic obstruction and urine retention.
    • Digital rectal examination for enlarged prostate ( benign or malignant) or tender prostate of prostatitis
    • Examine for signs of bleeding disorder e.g. widespread bruising, swollen joints, bleeding gums
    • Urine analysis and microscopy - looking for protein, granular casts and red cell casts suggestive of glomerulonephritis and lupus erythematosus.
    • Urine culture and sensitivity - to diagnose urinary tract infection.
    • Urine cytology - may be useful to detect malignancies of the bladder and lower urinary tract, but is usually negative for kidney cancers.
    • First pass Urine PCR test for gonorrhea and Chlamydia to rule out sexually acquired urethritis
    • Anaerobic culture and AFB smear and culture - to rule out tuberculosis.
  • Blood tests
    • Full blood count and ESR
    • Renal function tests (urea and Creatinine)
    • Anti-streptolysin O titers and serum complement level if suspect glomerulonephritis
    • Coagulation profile to help rule out acquired or hereditary bleeding disorders
    • Antinuclear antibody, dsDNA, Rheumatoid factor may help diagnose lupus erythematosus
  • Radiological investigations
    • Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
    • Renal ultrasound scan may help diagnose a renal cyst, but is less sensitive at detecting lower urinary tract abnormalities
    • Retrograde pyelography
  • If the above tests are not revealing, may need to have cystoscopy by Urologist; CT scan of abdomen and pelvis or renal biopsy
  • Renal angiogram and aortogram may be necessary to evaluate renovascular hypertension and renal embolism

Home Diagnostic Testing

These home medical tests may be relevant to Blood in urine causes:

Tests and diagnosis discussion for Blood in urine:

In order to find the cause of hematuria, or to rule out certain causes, the doctor may order a series of tests, including urinalysis, blood tests, intravenous pyelogram, and cystoscopic examination.

Urinalysis is the examination of urine for various cells and chemicals. In addition to finding RBCs, the doctor may find white blood cells that signal a urinary tract infection or casts (groups of cells molded together in the shape of the kidneys' tiny filtering tubes) that signal kidney disease. Excessive protein in the urine also signals poor kidney function.

Blood tests may reveal kidney disease if the blood contains high levels of wastes that the kidneys are supposed to remove.

An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is an x-ray of the urinary tract. An IVP may reveal a tumor, a kidney or bladder stone, an enlarged prostate, or other blockage to the normal flow of urine.

A cystoscope can be used to take pictures of the inside of the bladder. It has a tiny camera at the end of a thin tube, which is inserted through the urethra. A cystoscope may provide a better view of a tumor or bladder stone than can be seen with an IVP. (Source: excerpt from Hematuria (Blood in the Urine): NIDDK)

When you have a urinary problem, your doctor may use a cystoscope to see the inside of your bladder and urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The cystoscope has lenses like a telescope or microscope. These lenses let the doctor focus on the inner surfaces of the urinary tract. Some cystoscopes use optical fibers (flexible glass fibers) that carry an image from the tip of the instrument to a viewing piece at the other end. The cystoscope is as thin as a pencil and has a light at the tip. Many cystoscopes have extra tubes to guide other instruments for procedures to treat urinary problems (Source: excerpt from Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy: NIDDK)

A biopsy is a diagnostic test that involves collecting small pieces of tissue, usually through a needle, for examination under a microscope. A kidney biopsy can help find a diagnosis and determine the best course of treatment. (Source: excerpt from Kidney Biopsy: NIDDK)


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