Urine and stool tests

Author: Gesche Tallen, MD, PhD, erstellt am: 2009/08/26, Editor: Dipl.-Biol. Maria Yiallouros, Reviewer: Prof. Dr. med.Dr. h.c. G. Henze, English Translation: Dr. med. Gesche Tallen, Last modification: 2011/01/07

A urinanalysis (UA) is an array of laboratory tests performed on urine and a frequently used tool in childhood cancer diagnostics. A part of a urinalysis can be performed by using urine dipsticks, in which the test results can be read as color changes. Components, that are regularly determined in urine samples from children and teenagers with cancer are:

• Electrolytes, acids, alkalines, and proteins: to monitor the patient's fluid balance and kidney function;
• Glucose (sugar): to monitor kidney function and detect potential overdosage of glucocorticoids during certain treatment phases;
• Blood cells as indicators of an internal bleeding or urinary tract infection, respectively;
• Infectious diseases parameters and pathogens: to find the source of an infection;
• Tumor markers: refer to substances, that can be elevated in case of a certain malignant disease. For example, the presence of catecholamines in the urine is associated with neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer of the autonomous nervous system.

Stool tests are mainly performed to:

• determine pathogens for infectious diseases diagnostics;
• to look for blood in order to early detect intestinal bleedings as a result of treatment-induced severe immunosuppression and anaemia.