Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Stool osmotic gap is a measurement of the difference in solute types between serum and feces, used to distinguish among different causes of diarrhea. Feces is normally in osmotic equilibrium with blood serum, which the human body maintains between 290–300 mOsm/kg. [ 1 ]
Urine osmolality in humans can range from approximately 50 to 1200 mOsm/kg, depending on whether the person has recently drunk a large quantity of water (the lower number) or has gone without water for a long time (the higher number). [2] Plasma osmolality with typical fluid intake often averages approximately 290 mOsm/kg H 2 O in humans. [2]
It is not possible for the kidneys to produce urine with a specific gravity greater than 1.040 [40] but such readings can occur in urine that contains high-molecular weight substances, such as contrast dyes used in radiographic imaging. [38] Specific gravity is commonly measured with urine test strips, but refractometers may also be used. [41]
A urinalysis will typically show a decreased urine sodium level, a high urine creatinine-to-serum creatinine ratio, a high urine urea-to-serum urea ratio, and concentrated urine (determined by osmolality and specific gravity). None of these is particularly useful in diagnosis.
The osmometer uses the solution's freezing point depression to establish its strength. It is also used to determine the level of osmotically appropriate body fluid in various chemicals dissolved in the blood using the relationship in which a mole of dissolved substance reduces the freezing point of a kilogram of water by 1.86 °C (35.35 °F). [1]
As a result, urine volume increases. The increase in urine flow rate decreases the contact time between fluid and the tubular epithelium, thus reducing sodium as well as water reabsorption. The resulting natriuresis is of lesser magnitude than the water diuresis, leading eventually to excessive water loss and hypernatremia.
The rate therefore measured is the quantity of the substance in the urine that originated from a calculable volume of blood. Relating this principle to the below equation – for the substance used, the product of urine concentration and urine flow equals the mass of substance excreted during the time that urine has been collected.
Reference ranges for urine tests are described below: Measurement Lower limit Upper limit ... per High Power Field (HPF) RBC casts: n/a 0 / negative [2] White blood ...