Myoglobin Urine

Blood

Report in 48Hrs

At Home

No Fasting Required

Details

Muscle breakdown marker.

₹2,442₹3,489

30% OFF

Myoglobin Urine Test Information Guide

Why is it done?
- This test measures myoglobin levels in the urine to detect muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) and muscle injury.
- Primary reasons for ordering include: suspected muscle trauma or crush injuries, evaluation of unexplained muscle pain or weakness, monitoring after intense exercise or statin use, assessment of fever with dark urine, and investigation of acute kidney injury.
- Typically performed when patients present with symptoms of muscle injury, after traumatic events, during evaluation of kidney disease of unclear origin, or when compartment syndrome is suspected.
- Also indicated when monitoring for complications following prolonged immobilization, severe burns, electric shock, or excessive physical exertion.
Normal Range
- Normal/Reference Range: Negative or trace amounts (typically <0.5 ng/mL or <0.5 μg/mL), with some laboratories reporting <20 ng/mL as normal.
- Units of Measurement: ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter) or μg/mL (micrograms per milliliter), depending on the laboratory method used.
- Interpretation: Negative result indicates absence of significant myoglobin in urine and suggests no acute muscle breakdown. Trace amounts may be seen in healthy individuals after strenuous exercise.
- Abnormal Results: Positive or elevated levels indicate muscle breakdown and suggest myoglobinuria, which requires immediate clinical investigation and intervention.
Interpretation
- Negative/Trace Results: Indicate normal muscle integrity with no significant muscle breakdown. Trace amounts in athletes after intense exercise are generally considered physiologic and non-concerning.
- Positive/Elevated Results: Confirm myoglobinuria and indicate acute muscle cell damage. Results should be correlated with serum myoglobin, CK levels, and clinical presentation to assess severity.
- Clinical Significance: Myoglobinuria is a marker of rhabdomyolysis severity and risk for acute kidney injury. Higher levels correlate with greater muscle damage and increased risk of renal complications.
- Factors Affecting Results: Recent muscle injury or trauma, intense exercise, statin use, statins combined with other medications, genetic muscle disorders, hypothermia, electrolyte abnormalities, and infections can all elevate urine myoglobin levels.
- Time Course: Myoglobin appears in urine within hours of muscle injury and peaks at 24-48 hours, then gradually decreases. Serial testing helps assess progression and recovery.
Associated Organs
- Primary Organ Systems: Skeletal muscle system (primary source), kidneys (site of filtration and potential damage), urinary tract (detection site).
- Medical Conditions Associated with Abnormal Results: Rhabdomyolysis (crush injury, compartment syndrome), severe muscle trauma, heat-related illness, severe exertion, statin-induced myopathy, muscular dystrophies, myositis, sepsis, severe burns, electrocution, malignant hyperthermia.
- Diseases This Test Helps Diagnose: Rhabdomyolysis, drug-induced myopathy, primary myopathies, compartment syndrome, crush syndrome, exertional heat illness, acute kidney injury secondary to myoglobinuria.
- Potential Complications: Acute kidney injury (myoglobin damages renal tubules), hyperkalemia (from muscle cell lysis), metabolic acidosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in severe cases, compartment syndrome with potential limb loss, death if untreated.
Follow-up Tests
- Recommended Additional Tests: Serum myoglobin (more specific marker), creatine kinase (CK) level, basic metabolic panel including electrolytes and creatinine, urinalysis (dipstick shows positive for blood without RBCs), complete blood count.
- Kidney Function Assessment: Repeated creatinine and BUN measurements, urinalysis with microscopy, consideration of imaging studies if acute kidney injury develops.
- Monitoring Frequency: For confirmed myoglobinuria, repeat urine myoglobin testing every 24-48 hours initially, with daily monitoring of kidney function and electrolytes for at least 3-5 days.
- Complementary Testing: Aldolase levels, liver function tests, blood gas analysis, cardiac enzymes if applicable, toxicology screen, genetic testing if hereditary myopathy suspected.
- Imaging Considerations: MRI or CT scan if compartment syndrome or extensive tissue damage is suspected, ultrasound to assess muscle viability and compartment pressures.
Fasting Required?
- Fasting Requirement: No - Fasting is NOT required for urine myoglobin testing.
- Specimen Collection: Random urine sample is acceptable, though early morning urine (first void) may provide more concentrated specimen for better detection sensitivity.
- Patient Preparation: Maintain normal diet and hydration unless otherwise instructed. Adequate hydration is actually beneficial in suspected rhabdomyolysis to promote kidney function.
- Medications: No specific medications need to be avoided specifically for this test. However, disclose all medications to the healthcare provider, as certain drugs (particularly statins) can cause myoglobinuria.
- Collection Instructions: Use clean-catch midstream technique or catheterized specimen collection. Specimen should be refrigerated if not processed immediately and sent to laboratory promptly to prevent degradation.

How our test process works!