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Test Code OSM24 Osmolality, 24 Hour, Urine


Necessary Information


24-Hour volume (in milliliters) is required.



Specimen Required


Supplies:

-Diazolidinyl Urea (Germall), 5.0 mL (T822)

-Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)

Container/Tube: 24-hour graduated urine container with no metal cap or glued insert

Specimen Volume: 10 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect urine for 24 hours

2. Add 5 mL of diazolidinyl urea as preservative at start of collection or refrigerate specimen during and after collection.

Additional Information: See Urine Preservatives-Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens for multiple collections.


Secondary ID

622326

Useful For

Assessing the concentrating and diluting ability of the kidney using a 24-hour urine collection

Method Name

Freezing Point Depression

Reporting Name

Osmolality, 24 HR, U

Specimen Type

Urine

Specimen Minimum Volume

1 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  14 days
  Ambient  72 hours

Reject Due To

  All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Clinical Information

Osmolality is an index of the solute concentration. Urine osmolality is a measure of the concentration of osmotically active particles, principally sodium, chloride, potassium, and urea; glucose can contribute significantly to the osmolality when present in substantial amounts in urine. Urinary osmolality corresponds to urine specific gravity in nondisease states.

 

The ability of the kidney to maintain both tonicity and water balance of the extracellular fluid can be evaluated by measuring the osmolality of the urine either routinely or under artificial conditions. More information concerning the state of renal water handling or abnormalities of urine dilution or concentration can be obtained if urinary osmolality is compared to serum osmolality and urine electrolyte studies are performed. Normally, the ratio of urine osmolality to serum osmolality is 1.0 to 3.0, reflecting a wide range of urine osmolality.

Reference Values

0-11 months: 50-750 mOsm/kg

≥12 months: 150-1,150 mOsm/kg

Interpretation

With normal fluid intake and normal diet, a patient will produce urine of about 500 to 850 mosmol/kg water. Above the age of 20 years, there is an age dependent decline in the upper reference range of approximately 5 mOsm/kg/year.

 

The normal kidney can concentrate urine to 800 to 1400 mosmol/kg and with excess fluid intake, a minimal osmolality of 40 to 80 mosmol/kg can be reached.

 

With dehydration, the urine osmolality should be 3 to 4 times the plasma osmolality

 

When a patient is drinking relatively large amounts of fluid the urine can be maximally diluted to approximately 100 mosmol/kg water.

 

A 24-hour urine osmolality will reflect the average urine osmolality over the day. Thus, a 24-hour urine osmolality will provide information regarding patient's ability to either dilute or concentrate the urine, and also their habitual water intake throughout the day in relation to their osmole intake. This information is most commonly used to determine if a patient with a risk of kidney stone disease is ingesting enough fluid to maintain a relatively dilute urine. Rough guidelines would suggest a treatment target of less than 400 mosmol/ kg water in a stone forming individual, which correlates with a total urine volume of greater than 2 L in an average individual.

Cautions

No significant cautionary statements

Clinical Reference

1. Newman D, Price C. Renal function and nitrogen metabolites. In: Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. 4th ed. WB Saunders Company; 2006

2. Delaney MP, Lamb EJ. Kidney disease. In. Rifai NF, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2018:1306

Method Description

Measurement of the freezing point of urine is the most widely used principle in osmometers. The extent of lowering below 0° C (the freezing point of water) is a function of the concentration of substances dissolved in the urine. By definition, 1 milliosmole per kilogram lowers the freezing point 0.001858° C.(Schindler EI, Brown SM, Scott MG. Electrolytes and blood gases. In: Rifai N, Horwath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2018:610-612)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

Same day/1 day

Specimen Retention Time

7 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

83935

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
OSM24 Osmolality, 24 HR, U 2694-8

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
UOS24 Osmolality, 24 HR, U 2694-8
TM02 Collection Duration (h) 13362-9
VL02 Volume (mL) 3167-4

Urine Preservative Collection Options

Note: The addition of preservative or application of temperature controls must occur at the beginning of the collection.

Ambient (No additive)

No

Refrigerate (No additive)

Preferred

Frozen (No additive)

OK

50% Acetic Acid

No

Boric Acid

No

Diazolidinyl Urea (Germall)

OK

6M Hydrochloric Acid

No

6M Nitric Acid

No

Sodium Carbonate

No

Thymol

No

Toluene

No