Which of these is a chemical that Sammy would NOT have evaluated in urine?

• A. Ketones
• B. Saline
• C. Glucose
• D. Blood

Answer: (B)

Urinalysis looks for substances that reflect metabolism and kidney function. Ketones appear in urine when fat is broken down for energy, which happens with limited carbohydrate availability or insulin deficiency. Glucose in urine occurs when blood glucose is high enough that the kidneys can’t reabsorb it all, a sign often tied to diabetes. Blood in urine indicates bleeding somewhere along the urinary tract or from contamination, pointing to injury, infection, stones, or other pathology. Saline, however, is a saltwater solution used for intravenous fluids and is not a normal urinary metabolite or excreted marker. It isn’t something a urinalysis is designed to evaluate, because it doesn’t reflect the body's metabolic or renal status.