question for phlebotimists or lad techs?

Question

hi recently i have benn diagnosed with 3 different kinds of psorisis and i am to have some labs done in the next day or 2.i understand all my other labs but the dr, ordered a ua dipstick only.what will they be testing for? thank you

Answer 1

The dipstick urinalysis is probably just for completeness.
It can show only a few things such as sugar, blood, evidence of bilirubin if there is liver dysfunction, acid base balance, etc.
It will not show drugs if that is a concern for you (- probably not, but I don't know you). Blood tests show liver and kidney function much better and would also rule out diabetes, so the UA is not likely to add much. It's inexpensive, but I find it a pain to urinate on command. Good luck with the psoriasis.
Sounds tough. RC MD

Answer 2

Psoriasis, in many of its etiologies, is often associated with autoimmune disorders. That is, your immune system could be attacking your skin (in fact, some patients initially diagnosed with psoriasis turn out to have lupus, a more serious multi-systemic autoimmune disorder). Your doctor wants to make sure your kidneys are functioning appropriately. During many autoimmune diseases, antibodies bind to proteins in the body that they recognize as foreign (even though they are part of your body). The complexes of proteins and antibodies get "stuck" in the top of the filtration units of your kidneys, called nephrons, and cause severe inflammation. This condition is called glomerulonephritis.

Glomerulonephritis can cause blood or proteins in the urine, or even white blood cells in the urine. It is important that you have a urinalysis yearly to rule this out, as glomerulonephritis, if left untreated, can lead to permanent and serious kidney damage.


Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, and I hope you are able to find helpful treatments for your condition(s).