What is urine FEME test?

A full and microscopic examination of urine (urine FEME) is an analysis of a urine specimen using biochemical procedure as well as examination of a sample using a microscope.

Why test urine FEME?

Urine FEME is a fully automated urinalysis testing intended for the in vitro qualitative or semi-quantitative determination of urine analytes. Quantitative determination of erythrocytes and leukocytes. Semi-quantitative determination of epithelial cells, bacteria, and hyaline casts and the qualitative determination of pathological casts, crystals, yeasts, mucus and sperm in urine. Overall, this test is used to check a disease or infection of the urinary tract.

How is the procedure performed?

You may be asked to collect urine sample using a provided container first thing in the morning because at that time your urine is more concentrated, and abnormal results is easier to detect. In full examination, a urine stripe will be used whereas in microscopy examination a drop of urine will be used to observed under microscope.

What will be the results interprets?

For a urinalysis, your urine sample is interpreted in three ways: visual exam, dipstick test and microscopic exam.

1. Visual exam:

A lab technician examines the urine's appearance. Urine is typically clear with a normal colour of pale to dark yellow. Cloudiness or an unusual odour may indicate a problem, such as an infection. Blood in the urine may make it look red or brown. Urine colour can be influenced by what you've just eaten. For example, beets or rhubarb may add a red tint to your urine. Measure of specific gravity where the normal range for specific gravity is 1.005 – 1.025.

2. Dipstick test:

A dipstick — a thin, plastic stick with strips of chemicals on it — is placed in the urine to detect abnormalities. The chemical strips change colour if certain substances are present or if their levels are above normal. A dipstick test checks for:

• Acidity (pH). The pH level indicates the amount of acid in urine. Abnormal pH levels may indicate a kidney or urinary tract disorder. Normal pH 4.6 - 8.0. A high (alkaline) pH can be caused by severe vomiting, a kidney disease, some UTIs, asthma. A low (acidic) pH may be caused by severe lung disease (emphysema), uncontrolled diabetes, starvation or drinking too much alcohol.
• Concentration. A measure of concentration, or specific gravity, shows how concentrated particles are in your urine. A higher-than-normal concentration often is a result of not drinking enough fluids.
• Protein. Low levels of protein in urine are normal. Small increases in protein in urine usually aren't a cause for concern, but larger amounts may indicate a kidney problem.
• Sugar. Normally the amount of sugar (glucose) in urine is too low to be detected. Any detection of sugar on this test usually calls for follow-up testing for diabetes.
• Ketones. As with sugar, any number of ketones detected in your urine could be a sign of diabetes and requires follow-up testing.
• Bilirubin. Bilirubin is a product of red blood cell breakdown. Normally, bilirubin is carried in the blood and passes into your liver, where it's removed and becomes part of bile. Bilirubin in your urine may indicate liver damage or disease.
• Evidence of infection. If either nitrites or leukocyte esterase — a product of white blood cells — is detected in your urine, it may be a sign of a urinary tract infection.
• Blood. Blood in your urine requires additional testing — it may be a sign of kidney damage, infection, kidney or bladder stones, kidney or bladder cancer, or blood disorders.
3. Microscopic exam:

During this exam, several drops of urine are viewed with a microscope. If any of the following are observed in above-average levels, additional testing may be necessary:

• White blood cells (leukocytes) may be a sign of an infection.
• Red blood cells (erythrocytes) may be a sign of kidney disease, a blood disorder or another underlying medical condition, such as bladder cancer.
• Bacteria or yeasts may indicate an infection.
• Casts - tube-shaped proteins — may form as a result of kidney disorders.
• Crystalsthat form from chemicals in urine may be a sign of kidney stones.