Urine Hemosiderin Test in Kathmandu

About this test

Haemosiderin is an iron-storage pigment, and finding it in urine tells a very specific story: that red blood cells have been breaking down inside the bloodstream rather than in the spleen. When intravascular haemolysis overwhelms the blood's haemoglobin-binding proteins, free haemoglobin filters through the kidneys, is absorbed by the tubular cells, and is converted to haemosiderin. As those cells are shed days later, the iron granules appear in the urine sediment, where the laboratory stains them with Prussian blue and examines them under the microscope for the characteristic blue specks. Because haemosiderin lingers after the haemoglobin itself has cleared, this test is especially useful for detecting a haemolytic episode that happened several days earlier, when other markers may already have normalised. Doctors order it when they suspect chronic intravascular haemolysis, most importantly paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, but also mechanical damage from a prosthetic heart valve, transfusion reactions, severe burns, march haemoglobinuria after strenuous activity, or certain infections. The typical patient has unexplained anaemia with dark or cola-coloured urine, fatigue, jaundice, or a raised LDH with a low haptoglobin. A positive result is interpreted alongside the complete blood count, reticulocyte count, peripheral smear, bilirubin, LDH, haptoglobin, and flow cytometry where PNH is suspected. In our setting it is a quiet but valuable test, since persistent haemolytic anaemia is sometimes missed when fever and infection dominate the clinical picture. A negative result does not exclude haemolysis, so it is always read in context.

Sample type

Urine (random spot sample)

Preparation

No fasting and no special diet needed. Collect a fresh random urine sample in the clean container we provide. If you can, give a morning specimen, and tell us about any recent blood transfusion, as that can affect the result.

Turnaround time

Reports for Urine Hemosiderin are typically ready within: Same Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other urine tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Urine Hemosiderin or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.