Addison's Test Lab Report

With the urine samples given to us by the five patients we tested the amounts of glucose, amino acids, urea, and salts in urine. To test this we used different chemicals that would react with one of the four items above showing either a high concentration or low concentration within the urine. By using a solution called silver nitrate we could test whether or not salt was present in the urine. If the urine turned a cloudy white after adding the silver nitrate the urine had a high concentration of salt. To test for amino acid we used a chemical called biuret solution. If the urine turned the color purple it means that there was excess amino acid found in the urine. We then used a glucose test strip to test if the urine had glucose in it. If the strip turned a different color it meant that glucose was present. Finally we tested urea in the urine by using a powder called urease and a solution called phenolphthalein. If after adding these two items and the urine turned pink it meant that the urine had urea in it. The urine of a healthy patient should get the test results urea positive, salts positive, glucose negative and amino
One disorder that can lead to this occurring is Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison's Disease). This is a hormonal disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisol and aldosterone. Aldosterone is a type of hormone which is produced in the adrenal glands and helps to regulate blood pressure and balance salts and water in the body. It does this by working with the kidney to create potassium and to retain salt. When there is low levels of aldosterone created this causes the kidney’s to not be able to regulate salts and would cause blood pressure and volume to drop. Due to the kidney’s inability to retain the salt and then excrete from the body the salt continues to flow through the blood. Therefore no salt is found in the