Testing clinic for urinalysis

[allencraig]

Does anyone know of a clinic where I can bring my urine for testing without having to go through a formal "consultation" first?

 

Out of the blue, my urine is now very dark brown. It's not blood. No discomfort, and I don't believe I'm dehydrated as I pay particular attention to making sure I drink plenty of water. 

 

I don't need health advice (but thank you) other than "drop-off" clinic suggestion for urine tests.

Thanks.

[Saltire]

Location?

[KannikaP]

It would be handy to know where YOU are first.

 

I went to the Doctor with very dark brown bloody urine. He asked how long it was since I had had sex, to which I replied 'Over a year'

'It's not blood, it's rust' was his reply.    LOL

Edited May 9, 2021 by KannikaP

[ukrules]

You will find this urinalysis service at a blood lab

 

 

[dddave]

When I had the exact same symptom some years ago, it turned out that I was passing a very small kidney stone.  I was very fortunate in that there was no pain, just a dull ache for a couple of days.

Urine cleared up after two days and has stayed normal since.

[tonray]

Dark Brown may indicate liver failure....go ASAP

[Susco]

They have labs all over the country. From memory urinalysis is 150 Baht

 

https://www.nhealth-asia.com/en/home

[Sheryl]

Any lab can do this. But you need more than a urinalysis, you also need blood tests: ALT/AST and bilirubin.

 

Where in Thailand are you?

 

in the absence of dehydration, dark urine usually means the presence of bilirubin which suggests liver problem.

 

You can actually do a simple test yourself for bilirubin in the urine: put your urine in a jar, seal the lid tightly then shake vigorously. If a layer f foam forms at the top, it is probably bilirubin.

 

If it's not bilirubin then blood is the other possibility but would not usually be brown, more pink or reddish.

[allencraig]

7 hours ago, Saltire said:

Location?

Oh darn it! Sorry. I'm in Bangkok. Near Asok BTS.

[allencraig]

4 hours ago, Susco said:

They have labs all over the country. From memory urinalysis is 150 Baht

 

https://www.nhealth-asia.com/en/home

Thanks so much!

[Sheryl]

RSU Health will do lab tests on demand without a consultation.

 

Corner Sukhumvit and Soi 33.

[allencraig]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

which suggests liver problem

I just looked at my sample from earlier and the sediment—that's the perfect word for it—has somewhat settled, floating at the bottom. I shook it and foam definitely forms at the top. So I will rush to get it tested.

I don't have any of the listed symptoms of liver disease, other than maybe chronic fatigue, which I've struggled with for years due to I believe my sleep problems, and some slight abdominal pain, which I've thought to be related to my GI problems (I also need to get tested for.)

I'll bring the sample to be tested tomorrow and get whatever tests they recommend. Thanks so much!

[Sheryl]

In that case you defintely need to have ALT/AST and bilirubin, and I would also suggest a Hepatitis panel.

 

[allencraig]

11 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

ALT/AST and bilirubin, and I would also suggest a Hepatitis panel.

Thanks Sheryl. I'll mention those tests when I go to the clinic to ensure they include them with the other tests they recommend. If tests indicate problems w/ my liver, the hard part then is figuring what's causing it, specifically.  Ok, one step at a time..

[Sheryl]

10 hours ago, allencraig said:

Thanks Sheryl. I'll mention those tests when I go to the clinic to ensure they include them with the other tests they recommend. If tests indicate problems w/ my liver, the hard part then is figuring what's causing it, specifically.  Ok, one step at a time..

At that point you have to see a specialist. But having ruled Hepatitis in or out will help focus things.

[Nray]

Maybe check out a std clinic, here's a link to a place that does std testing in Chiang Mai they do  bunch of other testing too - https://www.stdtestchiangmai.com

[allencraig]

18 hours ago, Susco said:

They have labs all over the country. From memory urinalysis is 150 Baht

 

https://www.nhealth-asia.com/en/home

Thanks for this link. I've been trying to get a quote from them all morning but they're making a "thing" about it. Still waiting for a promised email (as cannot give a quote via Line they say.) I suspect they're going to try to hit me with a lot more than 150thb, but when they eventually send me a quote I'll know then.

[Susco]

9 minutes ago, allencraig said:

Thanks for this link. I've been trying to get a quote from them all morning but they're making a "thing" about it. Still waiting for a promised email (as cannot give a quote via Line they say.) I suspect they're going to try to hit me with a lot more than 150thb, but when they eventually send me a quote I'll know then.

 

Why you need a quote for an urinalysis, just calling them would confirm the price.

Of course 150 Baht does not include any additional tests, like there are urine culture or other requirements.

[Sheryl]

Again, I suggest you go to RSU Health, corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 33. No appointment needed. just walk in, explain you want some tests done but not a full check up package. The relevent blood tests do not require fasting.

 

If you are expecting them to suggest which tests to do, they will tell you to see a doctor first. You can't have it both ways., Either you pay for a consultation so that a doctor recommends what tests to get, or you tell them what tests you want.

 

As mentioned, for what appears to be likely bilirubin in the urine, the relevant tests would be urinalysis, ALT/AST, serum bilirubin and a Hepatitis panel. The first 3 will not cost much, maybe 200 baht each (give or take), Hepatitis panel will be more. there may also be an overall service fee.

 

[Andy from Kent]

19 hours ago, tonray said:

Dark Brown may indicate liver failure....go ASAP

 

With a post such as yours he'll probably die in a traffic accident rushing to the hospital.

 

 

[allencraig]

32 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Again, I suggest you go to RSU Health, corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 33. No appointment needed. just walk in, explain you want some tests done but not a full check up package. The relevent blood tests do not require fasting.

 

If you are expecting them to suggest which tests to do, they will tell you to see a doctor first. You can't have it both ways., Either you pay for a consultation so that a doctor recommends what tests to get, or you tell them what tests you want.

 

As mentioned, for what appears to be likely bilirubin in the urine, the relevant tests would be urinalysis, ALT/AST, serum bilirubin and a Hepatitis panel. The first 3 will not cost much, maybe 200 baht each (give or take), Hepatitis panel will be more. there may also be an overall service fee.

 

Just because I had the info, I also asked N Health for a quote. They were 150thb vs. the 450thb RSU quoted. Plus, N Health gave me a sample results page showing the tests included (Yes bilirubin and urobilinogen, No Liver functions tests like ALT/AST.)

 

Since I'll want the Hepatitis panel and liver function tests I'll probably go with N Health assuming the collective costs will be lower. 

 

[Sheryl]

31 minutes ago, allencraig said:

Just because I had the info, I also asked N Health for a quote. They were 150thb vs. the 450thb RSU quoted. Plus, N Health gave me a sample results page showing the tests included (Yes bilirubin and urobilinogen, No Liver functions tests like ALT/AST.)

 

Since I'll want the Hepatitis panel and liver function tests I'll probably go with N Health assuming the collective costs will be lower. 

 

 

I think the RSU quote includes a service fee. If you get several tests, the difference between there and anywhere else will be less as the ssevice fee is a onetime charge.

 

Liver function tests (ALT/AST and serum bilirubin) are blood tests. They will never be included in a urinalysis. You have to request them separately.

 

From this sample, the urine test N Health will do for bilirubin etc is a simple dipstick and will not give exact quantification.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[allencraig]

1 hour ago, Susco said:

 

Why you need a quote for an urinalysis, just calling them would confirm the price.

Of course 150 Baht does not include any additional tests, like there are urine culture or other requirements.

I dunno. They didn't want to give a quote via Line. The email I finally received was 150thb. Nice n' cheap.

[allencraig]

On 5/10/2021 at 3:13 PM, Sheryl said:

 

I think the RSU quote includes a service fee. If you get several tests, the difference between there and anywhere else will be less as the ssevice fee is a onetime charge.

 

Liver function tests (ALT/AST and serum bilirubin) are blood tests. They will never be included in a urinalysis. You have to request them separately.

 

From this sample, the urine test N Health will do for bilirubin etc is a simple dipstick and will not give exact quantification.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N Health turned out to be great. I had the urinalysis and the full liver panel and they spent a lot of time with me going over what tests I might want to consider. Results were sent via pdf a few hours later.

 

In the end, my AST/ALT, bilirubin + other blood-based Liver functions tests were normal. However

- my urine PH was high at 8.5 (normal is 4.5–8),

- my Erythrocyte count was hight at 3+ (normal is "negative")

and most worrisome is

- a VERY high RBC sedimentation (HPF cells) range of 100-200 (normal being 0–2). This was obvious just by looking at my urine. 

 

So I'll now make a consultation with a urologist (I think urologist) and look into why there's so much cells slough off, and from where they're sloughing from. Fingers crossed.

[Sheryl]

The pH is unimportant, will normally vary depending in what you eat & drink

 

I take it the urine was negative for bilirubin? In which case the coloration is due to the presence of blood and yes, urologist is next step

 

BTW where was the NHealth clinic you went to located? Their website does nto seem to show locations of other than their head office

[allencraig]

13 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

The pH is unimportant, will normally vary depending in what you eat & drink

 

I take it the urine was negative for bilirubin? In which case the coloration is due to the presence of blood and yes, urologist is next step

 

BTW where was the NHealth clinic you went to located? Their website does nto seem to show locations of other than their head office

Yes, blood-tested bilirubin was normal. The lab is at 2301/2 New Petchaburi Rd, at the corner of Soi Phetchaburi 47. I took a khlong boat to the Thong Lo pier, it's a very short walk from there. They are in the back corner of the pharmacy on the ground floor. Kinda hidden away.

[Sheryl]

27 minutes ago, allencraig said:

Yes, blood-tested bilirubin was normal. The lab is at 2301/2 New Petchaburi Rd, at the corner of Soi Phetchaburi 47. I took a khlong boat to the Thong Lo pier, it's a very short walk from there. They are in the back corner of the pharmacy on the ground floor. Kinda hidden away.

 

Thanks.

 

And was the urine negative for bilirubin?

[allencraig]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

 

Thanks.

 

And was the urine negative for bilirubin?

??

Yes, negative is normal. Same for urobilinogen.

[Sheryl]

Ok then a urologist it is.

 

Painless blood in the urine is actually more worrying than when there is associated pain as less likely to be from a stone or infection.  Bladder cancer may need to be ruled out. Don't delay.

[allencraig]

4 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Ok then a urologist it is.

 

Painless blood in the urine is actually more worrying than when there is associated pain as less likely to be from a stone or infection.  Bladder cancer may need to be ruled out. Don't delay.

I am looking for a urologist now. I'll look through this forum as well (I wish the search function worked), but if you have a suggestion at your fingertips, please feel free to offer him or her. Thanks for all your help.