MAY CONDUCTIVITY BE USED AS A PARAMETER FOR URINE ANALYSIS

Condutivity is a non-linear function of electrolyte concentrations in fluids and may be used as an indirect method To determine the feasibility of urine conductivity measurement, which does not reguire expensive machines and gives results in a short time, in the evaluation of renal functions. Seventy two patients evaluated in the pediatric nephrology department for any reason were enrolled in this study. First morning urine samples were obtained from all the patients and evaluated for osmolality, conductivity, pH, density, protein, creatinine, urea, uric acid, glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium levels. Urine osmolarity was found to have significant positive relation with urinary creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosporus,uric acid, conductivity and density, While urine density was determined to be negatively related to pH level, there were positive correlations between urine density and creatinine, urea, chloride, calcium and inorganic phosporus. Urine conductivity was positively related to osmolality, sodium and uric acid. Patients were grouped as those having urine osmolality less than and over 290 mOsm/Kg H2O (group A and B respectively). Urine conductivity in group A was lover than group B. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p=0.005). When the spectrum of conductivity values was evaluted seperately in each group, 74.0 % of the patients in group A were determined to have a conductivity of less than 7.338 mS cm-1.. This ratio was 33.9 % among the patients in group B. In conclusion, the results of this study suggests that conductivity could be used as a parameter in urinalysis.