What is tested in a urinalysis

Finding and treating a problem early can help keep serious diseases from getting worse. Healthy kidneys remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood. Blood and urine tests show how well the kidneys are doing their job and how quickly body At least 10 million Americans suffer from incontinence, which means that they are not able to control the times when they urinate. In some cases, the loss of urine is so Urinary tract infections are responsible for nearly 10 million healthcare visits each year.

What is the urinary tract? The urinary system Skip to main content. What is a Urinalysis also called a "urine test"? Some of the things a dipstick examination can check for include: Acidity pH is a measure of the amount of acid in the urine.

A pH that is above normal may be a sign of kidney stones, urinary infections, kidney problems, or other disorders. There is no discomfort in collecting a urine sample. There is no chance for problems in collecting a urine sample. The normal values listed here—called a reference range—are just a guide. These ranges vary from lab to lab, and your lab may have a different range for what's normal.

Your lab report should contain the range your lab uses. Also, your doctor will evaluate your results based on your health and other factors. This means that a value that falls outside the normal values listed here may still be normal for you or your lab. Abnormal: Many foods and medicines can affect the colour of the urine. Urine with no colour may be caused by long-term kidney disease or uncontrolled diabetes.

Dark yellow urine can be caused by dehydration. Red urine can be caused by blood in the urine. Abnormal: Cloudy urine can be caused by pus white blood cells , blood red blood cells , sperm, bacteria, yeast, crystals, mucus, or a parasite infection, such as trichomoniasis.

Abnormal: Some foods such as asparagus , vitamins, and antibiotics such as penicillin can cause urine to have a different odour. A sweet, fruity odour may be caused by uncontrolled diabetes. A urinary tract infection UTI can cause a bad odour. Urine that smells like maple syrup can mean maple syrup urine disease, when the body can't break down certain amino acids. Normal: 1. Abnormal: A very high specific gravity means very concentrated urine, which may be caused by not drinking enough fluid, loss of too much fluid excessive vomiting, sweating, or diarrhea , or substances such as sugar or protein in the urine.

Very low specific gravity means dilute urine, which may be caused by drinking too much fluid, severe kidney disease, or the use of diuretics. Normal: 4. Abnormal: Some foods such as citrus fruit and dairy products and medicines such as antacids can affect urine pH.

A high alkaline pH can be caused by severe vomiting, a kidney disease, some urinary tract infections, and asthma. A low acidic pH may be caused by severe lung disease emphysema , uncontrolled diabetes, aspirin overdose, severe diarrhea, dehydration, starvation, drinking too much alcohol, or drinking antifreeze ethylene glycol. Abnormal: Protein in the urine may mean that kidney damage, an infection, cancer, high blood pressure , diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus SLE , or glomerulonephritis is present.

Protein in the urine may also mean that heart failure , leukemia , poison lead or mercury poisoning , or pre-eclampsia if you are pregnant is present. A one-time urine collection, if normal, will be negative for glucose. Abnormal: Intravenous IV fluids can cause glucose to be in the urine. Too much glucose in the urine may be caused by uncontrolled diabetes, an adrenal gland problem, liver damage, brain injury, certain types of poisoning, and some types of kidney diseases.

Healthy pregnant women can have glucose in their urine, which is normal during pregnancy. Abnormal: Ketones in the urine can mean uncontrolled diabetes, a very low-carbohydrate diet, starvation or eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia , alcohol use disorder , or poisoning from drinking rubbing alcohol isopropanol.

Ketones are often found in the urine when a person does not eat fasts for 18 hours or longer. This may occur when a person is sick and cannot eat or vomits for several days.

Low levels of ketones are sometimes found in the urine of healthy pregnant women. Normal: Very few or no red or white blood cells or casts are seen. No bacteria, yeast cells, parasites, or squamous cells are present. A few crystals are normally seen. Red blood cells in the urine may be caused by kidney or bladder injury, kidney stones , a urinary tract infection UTI , inflammation of the kidneys glomerulonephritis , a kidney or bladder tumour, or systemic lupus erythematosus SLE.

White blood cells pus in the urine may be caused by a urinary tract infection, bladder tumor, inflammation of the kidneys, systemic lupus erythematosus SLE , or inflammation in the vagina or under the foreskin of the penis. Depending on the type, casts can mean inflammation or damage to the tiny tubes in the kidneys, poor blood supply to the kidneys, metal poisoning such as lead or mercury , heart failure , or a bacterial infection.

Large amounts of crystals, or certain types of crystals, can mean kidney stones, damaged kidneys, or problems with metabolism. Some medicines and some types of urinary tract infections can also increase the number of crystals in urine. Bacteria in the urine mean a urinary tract infection UTI. Yeast cells or parasites such as the parasite that causes trichomoniasis can mean an infection of the urinary tract.

The presence of squamous cells may mean that the sample is not as pure as it needs to be. These cells do not mean there is a medical problem, but your doctor may ask that you give another urine sample. Normal: —2, millilitres mL per 24 hours. Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:. Current as of: September 23, Seifert MD - Urology. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.

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Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Sections for Urinalysis About. Overview A urinalysis is a test of your urine.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Lab Tests Online. Accessed Aug. What is a urinalysis also called a "urine test"? National Kidney Foundation. Evaluation of the renal patient. A urine sample is needed. Your health care provider will tell you what type of urine sample is needed. Two common methods of collecting urine are hour urine collection and clean catch urine specimen.

Examples of specific urinalysis tests that may be done to check for problems include:. Certain medicines change the color of urine, but this is not a sign of disease.

Your provider may tell you to stop taking any medicines that can affect test results. Normal urine varies in color from almost colorless to dark yellow. Some foods, such as beets and blackberries, may turn urine red. Usually, glucose, ketones, protein, and bilirubin are not detectable in urine.

The following are not normally found in urine:.