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Review
. 2024 Aug 14;12(8):1848.
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12081848.

Quantification of Ions in Human Urine-A Review for Clinical Laboratories

Ana Rita Ferrão  1   2 , Paula Pestana  1   2 , Lígia Borges  3 , Rita Palmeira-de-Oliveira  3 , Ana Palmeira-de-Oliveira  2   3 , José Martinez-de-Oliveira  2
Affiliations
Review

Quantification of Ions in Human Urine-A Review for Clinical Laboratories

Ana Rita Ferrão et al. Biomedicines. .

Abstract

Urine is an organic fluid produced by the kidney, and its analysis is one of the most requested laboratory tests by clinicians. The ionic composition of urine has been shown to be a good health indicator: it is useful for the diagnosis of several diseases, as well as monitoring therapeutics. This review considers laboratorial techniques that have been used throughout time for the quantification of ions in urine, and also considers some methodologies that can potentially be used in clinical laboratories for this kind of analysis. Those methods include gravimetry, titration, flame emission spectrophotometry (flame photometry), fluorimetry, potentiometry (ion selective electrodes), ion chromatography, electrophoresis, kinetic colorimetric tests, enzymatic colorimetric tests, flow cytometry, atomic absorption, plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and paper-based devices. Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium are among the most important physiological ions, and their determination is frequently requested in hospitals. There have been many advances regarding the analysis of these ions in 24 h urine. However, there is still some way to go concerning the importance of intracellular ions in this type of sample as well as the use of occasional urine for monitoring these parameters.

Keywords: clinical laboratory tests; ions; urine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagram explanation for the methodology of flame emission spectrophotometry.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Diagram representation of the various types of the most used materials for potentiometric analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chronological scheme that reflects the appearance of the different quantitative methodologies addressed over time.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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