Test Background Urinary reducing substances include glucose, fructose, galactose, lactose, pentose and maltose, as well as amino acids, cysteine, tyrosine, homogentisic acid, ketone bodies, ascorbic acid and many drugs. A positive screen for reducing substances in the urine should be followed by sugar chromatography to identify specific carbohydrates present and provide a quantitative estimation.
Clinical Indications Neonatal/infantile presentation of generalised failure to thrive symptomology, chronic diarrhoea, hepatic dysfunction and developmental delay (often global)
Reference Range See report
Sample Required Random urine in universal container
Sample Volume 5 mL
Turnaround Time 1 week
Notes
A positive screen for reducing substances in the urine should be followed by sugar chromatography to identify specific carbohydrates present and provide a qualitative estimation.