A Capstone Experience Urinalysis Experiment Using Case Studies in General, Organic, and Biological (GOB) Chemistry Laboratory

Urinalysis is a useful tool to teach students about critical thinking, diagnosis, and chemistry. Students in General, Organic, and Biological (GOB) Chemistry often struggle to see the application of chemistry in the medical field especially when it comes to the laboratory. We introduced case studies and clinical examples to the lecture and laboratory courses to increase applicability and interest in chemical topics. Herein we present a capstone urinalysis laboratory experiment to assess students’ understanding of qualitative tests learned throughout the semester. Students are given a case study and patient history that pertains to one of six synthetic urine samples. They perform several urinalysis tests learned throughout the semester, complete a patient history chart, make a diagnosis, and suggest other tests and treatment using credible sources. The experiment has been conducted with students in person, hybrid, and virtual laboratory sessions to great success, as evidenced by an anonymous Qualtrics survey and student assessment data. The experiment can also be used as an individual lab without adopting the full curriculum.