● A dark coloured urine may be positive for bilirubin or haemoglobin.
● A urine that contains whole blood may contain S. haematobium eggs.
● A black faecal specimen may contain occult blood due to gastrointestinal bleeding.
● A dark brown serum may indicate intravascular haemolysis due to sickle cell disease, severe malaria, or an incompatible blood transfusion.
● A lipaemic (fatty) serum is associated with raised triglycerides (above 3.4 mmol/l).
● A deep yellow (icteric) serum indicates that a patient is jaundiced.
● A serum sample that is abnormally viscous (thick) or turbid may contain paraproteins.
● A serum that becomes markedly turbid after being refrigerated may contain cryoglobulins or cold agglutinins.
● A blood sample that contains a high concentration of red cells from which little serum or plasma can be obtained indicates severe dehydration or a blood disorder.
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