What is a urinalysis?

A urinalysis (also referred as a urine test) analyses the microscopic, chemical, and visual components of urine. It may consist of a variety of tests that use a single urine sample to identify and quantify different substances that pass-through urine.

Urinalysis is frequently used by medical professionals to diagnose urinary tract infections (UTIs) as well as to screen for or monitor certain common health conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease.

While a urine sample can be used to evaluate a several different aspects of your health, your doctor will choose which tests to order as part of a urinalysis based on your symptoms.

Urinalysis is often done

• Prior to surgery
• During a pregnancy checkup as a preemptive screening
• As part of a routine physical or medical examination

Your doctor may also order this test if they suspect that you have one of the following conditions, for example:

• Urinary tract Infection
• Diabetes
• Liver Disease
• kidney Disease

Your doctor may also ask to do a urinalysis if you experience any of the following symptoms,

• Blood in Urine
• Painful Urination
• Abdominal Pain
• Back Pain

Preparing for urinalysis

Drink plenty of water before the test so you can provide a sufficient urine sample. However, consuming too much water may cause inaccurate results.

You only need one or two extra glasses of fluid the day of the test; these can be juice or milk, depending on your diet.

Also, tell your doctor about any supplements or medications you are taking. Some of these include anthraquinone laxatives, riboflavin, metronidazole, methocarbamol, nitrofurantoin and vitamin C supplements.

Techniques of urinalysis

The urine will be examined by using one or more of the techniques listed below:

Microscopic analysis

A few drops of urine will be examined under a microscope during the microscopic examination. They check for the following things:

• Abnormalities in white or red blood cells, which could be indicators of infections, kidney disease, bladder cancer, or a blood condition
• Crystals that may sign kidney stones
• Contagious yeast or bacteria
• Epithelial cells, which might be tumor-related

Dipstick test

For the dipstick test, your doctor inserts a plastic stick that has been chemically treated into your sample. The stick’s color changes in response to the presence of specific substances. This can aid your doctor for identifying

• Bilirubin
• Blood
• Protein
• Abnormalities in pH levels
• Sugars

High concentrations of these particles in the urine can indicate excessive dehydration, high pH levels may be a sign of renal or urinary tract problems and any sugar content can be a sign of diabetes.

Visual exam

Sample can also be examined for

• A cloudy appearance that might be sign of an infection
• Unusual odors
• A reddish or brown colour, which could be a sign that your urine contains blood