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From now on, laboratory and sleep care test results will only be available through the MyBiron health portal for people aged 14 and older. Create your account or learn more.

COLOUR (routine urine test)

Normal urine colour is due primarily to the presence of waste products from the metabolism of hemoglobin (porphyrin, bilirubin, urobilin, etc.). Depending on how diluted the urine is (see Density), urine can take a colour ranging from very pale yellow to orange or amber. On top of the base colour, different hues are caused by multiple food-related compounds (beets, rhubarb, etc.), medications, or urate crystals. Red or brown urine may indicate the presence of blood or hemoglobin. This possibility is confirmed by using test strips and a microscope to look for blood (see those headings).

Term of the Week

Predictive medicine

Medicine that links medical knowledge with data to predict a patient’s potential health problems. Examples include artificial intelligence and genetics.