This is a transcript for the video SuperLab 360 video
Speaker 1:
So the first experiment we’re going to do is going to focus on a case study about a woman who was admitted into the hospital. So, she was presenting some symptoms, such as painful urination, she was really tired, so had a lot of lethargy, and she is diabetic, and so one of the first things that was done by the pathology lab was collecting her urine sample, and we have that here in front of us. And so, if you just pick that up. Yep. So, it may have been in the lab for a while so just making sure that before we start this experiment, just to give it a shake or turn it upside down. Yep, just making sure that a lot of the contents is mixed throughout so when we’re testing it, it will be accurate. And because this is someone’s sample, we’re going to treat it with some respect.
Speaker 1:
And what we’re going to use today is a multi reagent stick. It has multiple tests on it that is based on a color change, and if we see any color changes on this test. So, if you can handle that one there that’s been prepared for you. Each square is a different test and we’ve put it on the sheet here where each row is basically a different test.
Speaker 1:
And so you have the handle up. So, the first one we have glucose, bilirubin, ketone, specific gravity, which is just the density of the liquid, blood, pH, protein, urobilinogen, nitrite and leukocytes, which is white blood cells. So, in order to perform this experiment, what we’re going to do is one of you will dip the stick into the fluids. So, you can uncut that carefully. You can just put the cap on the bench. Yep.
Speaker 1:
And then making sure that when you dip it in that all of the squares are submerged or at least covered with the sample.
Speaker 1:
Yep. Maybe you need to tilt it a bit. Perfect. Yeah. It doesn’t need to be there for very long, just take it out. Yep. And then you can leave it on the bench here. And, in order to find out whether the test is working, each test has a specific time point where you should check. We’ll leave that test running, and before you start checking it. So, for glucose, it’s around 30 seconds, bilirubin, 30 seconds, ketone 40, specific gravity is 45. So, we’ll leave some time to let it change color, and we are starting to see some color change already. So, we’ve got the sheet prepared for you there, so you can get that ready if you want. Yep.
Speaker 2:
30 seconds is gone.
Speaker 1:
Yep. Cool. So I’ll take this one off here and then you can place it here and compare the squares. Awesome. Yep.
Speaker 1:
So, what do you think glucose is? So, anything on the far right of this chart is considered a positive test, where everything on the left is considered negative and anything in the middle is considered a trace, so there might be some traces of that particular biomolecule in there. So, what do you think glucose is?
Speaker 3:
Positive?
Speaker 1:
Yeah. I would say that’s definitely positive. Yep. And then bilirubin?
Speaker 3:
Small one.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, you can definitely hold it against that colour to compare.
Speaker 2:
I think it’s more-
Speaker 3:
I think it came out positive? Okay.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, in the sheet, we only have positive or negative. If you think it’s a trace maybe under positive, just write down trace.
Speaker 3:
[inaudible 00:04:02]
Speaker 1:
Maybe the next one for blood? Yeah.
Speaker 3:
It’s four [crosstalk 00:04:06] Not quite [inaudible 00:04:15].
Speaker 1:
I would probably say that’s a trace for blood.
Speaker 3:
Trace for blood?
Speaker 1:
Yeah. So it looks more orange, but in the chart, it’s meant to be yellow with green specks. I think once those green specks start merging with the yellow, it turns a bit orange. Yep. [crosstalk 00:04:43]
Speaker 1:
So yeah, with that you can continue on with the rest of the chart.
Speaker 1:
So when we put all those things together, what are the things that scream out the most in the chart?
Speaker 1:
So, glucose is probably going to be associated to her diabetes because she has high blood sugar level, but what’s really concerning is the traces of blood and leukocytes. So blood should never be in your urine. Your kidneys do a really good job of filtering blood back into your bloodstream and not into your kidneys. So the kidneys might be damaged in this sense, the filtering part of the kidneys may be damaged.
Speaker 1:
And then the leukocytes, well, white blood cells only really appear in environments when there’s an infection or some sort of tissue damage, so the fact that they are present in the urine might indicate that the kidneys have some sort of infection or some tissue damage there. And nitrite is a byproduct of bacteria. So what do you think is happening for this particular patient?
Speaker 2:
She has an infection?
Speaker 1:
Yeah. She might have an infection, otherwise known as a UTI.
Speaker 3:
A UTI?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, exactly. Or urinary tract infection. So obviously we need to do more tests to figure out what the culprit is, the specific bacteria causing this infection, but she’s definitely not healthy at this point.