II. Interpretation
- Normal pH: 4.5-8.0 (usually 5.5 to 6.5)
III. Background
- Urine pH reflects serum pH except with Renal Tubular Acidosis (RTA)
- In Renal Tubular Acidosis (RTA), Urine pH >5.5
- Urine cannot be acidified despite acid load
IV. Causes: Increased Urine pH (Alkalotic urine)
- Stale sample with high ammonia content (Very high pH)
- Void testing if old sample
- Bacteriuria or Urinary Tract Infection
-
Urolithiasis
- Calcium Phosphate Calculi
- Struvite Calculi (infected stones, Magnesium-ammonium phosphate stones)
- Vegetarian Diet
- High citrate diet
- Renal Failure
- Renal Tubular Acidosis (Type 1)
- Drugs
- Antibiotics
- Bicarbonate (e.g. Excessive Antacid Use)
- Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (e.g. Acetazolamide)
- Potassium Citrate
- Sodium Citrate
V. Causes: Decreased Urine pH (Acidic urine)
- Acidosis (Acidemia)
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Starvation Ketosis
- Diarrhea
- Urolithiasis
- Acidic fruits (Cranberry)
- High Protein diet
- Drugs
- Ammonium chloride
- Methenamine