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We provide a comprehensive continuum of cancer services, including prevention, outreach, diagnostic, treatment and support services delivered by our highly skilled staff with compassion and care.
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The Center for Women & Children's Health is a hub for supporting women's and children's individual healthcare needs. The center provides support, research and unmatched patient-centered care.
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Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
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The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
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Osmolality urine - series
Indication
An osmolality test measures the concentration of particles in a solution. In this case, the solution is urine.
Procedure
How the test is performed: You are instructed to collect a "clean-catch" (midstream) urine sample. To obtain a clean-catch sample, 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 of urine to fall into the toilet bowl (this clears the urethra of contaminants). Then, in a clean container, catch about 1 to 2 ounces of urine and remove the container from the urine stream. Give the container to the health-care provider or assistant. To collect a urine sample from an infant: Thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine-collection bag (a plastic bag with adhesive paper on one end), and place it on your infant. For males, the entire penis can be placed in the bag with the adhesive attached to the skin. For females, the bag is placed over the labia. Place a diaper over the infant (bag and all). Check your baby frequently and remove the bag after the infant has urinated into it. The urine is then drained into a container for transport back to the health-care provider. No special preparation is necessary for this test.
Results
Greater-than-normal measurements may indicate:
- Addison's disease (rare)
- Congestive heart failure
- Shock
- Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion
Lower-than-normal measurements may indicate:
- Aldosteronism (very rare)
- Diabetes insipidus (rare)
- Excess fluid intake
- Renal tubular necrosis
- Severe pyelonephritis
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