The urine test and associated disorders:
Protien and Albumin- are associated with kidney and cardiac disorders.
Blood and Hemoglobin- are associated with kidney,bladder disorders and myocardial infarct.
pH(acid/alkaline)- are associated with general immune system function(eg. the body's removal of toxins and harmful bacteria) to prevent disease.
Bilirubin- is associated with liver disease, hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Urobilinogen- is associated with liver and biliary disease.
Leukocytes- are associated with white blood cells are associated with kidney and urinary tract diseases.
Nitrite- is associated with bacteriuria and urinary infection.
Glucose- is associated with diabetes and renal glycosuria.
Ketones-are associated with poor diet or food intake, insulin overuse and diabetic ketoacidosis.
Specific gravity-is associated with kidney disorders and even congestive heart failure.
Physicians do not test the urine for viral loads spectfic for any disease including Hepatitis C. The viral load is the measurement or amount of a particular virus in the body. Viral loads are usually measured by milliliter(EQ/ML). Viral detection or viral loads are necessary in order to determine if a patient has a disease eg. Hepatitis C. A physician, during a routine exam may not request labs for Hepatitis since the patient mostly covered in tattoos, denies exposure, risk or was unaware of the disease. Urine tests can be done in the physicians office, and are not expensive. It can be cost effective for labs and laboratory test companies to offer a standardized urine dip-stick test for Hepatitis C viral load detection in addition to the routine testing of urinalysis. Upon findings that a patient has a rather high Hepatitis C viral load (HCV) detected in the urine the physician can either a)order a lab(blood) test to confirm viral presence and discuss Hepatitis A,B and C with the patient or b) if there is no viral load present in the urine for Hepatitis C the physician does not have to order unnecessary tests for Hepatitis since the patient does not have symptoms during the exam. Hence, this approach becomes cost effective to the patient since many have insurances with high deductibles.
Why should there be standardized Hepatitis C viral load testing in urine?
Hepatitis C can become a chronic disease and over time cancer of the liver can occur. The earlier the detection the sooner one can get treatment to avoid damage to the liver. There is no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C which is why the viral load detection is important so that the virus, if present can be remedied quickly before possible progression. Patients who are on a budget may refuse such tests due to the expense. If standardized Hepatitis C viral load tests were offered during routine urinalysis dip stick testing the advantages are economical and the results would prioritize who would need complete testing and evaluation for Hepatitis C and who would not.
Back in the day only pap smears were given to detect the presence of abnormal cells or cancer. Then low and you know what behold... HPV (another add on of germy compliations or just another way of finally naming high risk abnormal cells) develops. Now, not only are physicians doing pap smears they also test for HPV. This is standarized during an exam regardless of cost and not a yes or no question of, if you want to be tested for it. For teens and very young adults there is a vaccine that offers prevention. For those past that age of innocence, there is no cure or prevention available. There is no cure for Hepatitis C for anyone of any age, if the viral load test became a standarzided one during urinalysis; the more informed one is regarding the results the sooner the remedy!