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Alternative names Return to top
Urine myoglobinDefinition Return to top
This is a test to detect the presence of myoglobin in urine.
Myoglobin is a protein in heart and skeletal muscles. When a muscle is exercised, it uses up available oxygen. Myoglobin has oxygen bound to it, thus providing an extra reserve of oxygen so that the muscle can maintain a high level of activity for a longer period of time.
When muscle is damaged, the myoglobin is released into the bloodstream. It is filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneys, and eliminated in urine. In large quantities, myoglobin can damage the kidney and break down into toxic compounds, causing kidney failure.How the test is performed Return to top
A "clean-catch" (midstream) urine sample must be obtained. To perform a clean-catch, men or boys should wipe clean the head of the penis. Women or girls need to wash the area between the lips of the vagina with soapy water and rinse well.
As you start to urinate, allow a small amount to fall into the toilet bowl first (this clears the urethra of contaminants), and then catch about 1 to 2 ounces of urine in the container. Give the container to the health care provider or assistant.
For infants:
Thoroughly wash the area around the opening where the urine flows from. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end), and place it on your infant. For males, the entire penis can be placed inside the bag and the adhesive attached to the skin. For females, the bag is placed over the lips of the vagina.
Place a diaper over the infant (bag and all). Check your baby frequently and remove the bag after the infant has urinated into it. For active infants, this procedure may take a couple of attempts-lively infants can easily displace the bag. The urine is then poured into a container for transport back to the health care provider.
How to prepare for the test Return to top
No special preparation is necessary for this test, but if the collection is being taken from an infant, a couple of extra collection bags may be necessary.How the test will feel Return to top
The test involves only normal urination which should cause no discomfort.Why the test is performed Return to top
Myoglobin levels may be obtained when muscle damage, including skeletal and heart muscle damage, is suspected.Normal Values Return to top
A normal urine sample does not have myoglobin. (Sometimes a normal result is reported as "negative".)What abnormal results mean Return to top
The presence of myoglobin in the urine may indicate:What the risks are Return to top
There are no risks. Update Date: 5/12/2003 Updated by: Bridget Martell, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |