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A urinalysis is a laboratory test. It can help your doctor detect problems that may be shown by your urine. Many illnesses and disorders affect how your body removes waste and toxins. The organs involved in this are your lungs, kidneys, urinary tract, skin, and bladder. Problems with any of these can affect the appearance, concentration, and content of your urine. Urinalysis is not the same as a drug screening or pregnancy test, although all three tests involve a urine sample. Urinalysis is often used:
Your doctor may also order this test if they suspect that you have certain conditions, such as:
If you already have a diagnosis for any of these conditions, your doctor may use urinalysis to check on the progress of treatments or the condition itself. Your doctor may also want to do a urinalysis if you experience certain symptoms, including:
Before your test, make sure to drink plenty of water so you can give an adequate urine sample. However, drinking excessive amounts of water may cause inaccurate results. One or two extra glasses of fluid, which can include juice or milk if your diet allows, is all you need the day of the test. You don’t have to fast or change your diet for the test. Also, tell your doctor about any medications or supplements you’re taking. Some of these that can affect the results of your urinalysis include:
Some other drugs can affect your results as well. Tell your doctor about any substances you use before doing a urinalysis. You’ll give your urine sample at the doctor’s office, hospital, or specialized testing facility. You’ll be given a plastic cup to take to the bathroom. There, you can privately urinate into the cup. You may be asked to obtain a clean catch urine sample. This technique helps prevent bacteria from the penis or vagina from getting in the sample. Begin by cleaning around your urethra with a premoistened cleaning wipe provided by the doctor. Urinate a small amount into the toilet, then collect the sample in the cup. Avoid touching the inside of the cup so you don’t transfer bacteria from your hands to the sample. When you’re done, place the lid on the cup and wash your hands. You’ll either bring the cup out of the bathroom or leave it in a designated compartment inside the bathroom. In some cases, your doctor may request that you do the urinalysis using a catheter inserted into your bladder through your urethra. This may cause mild discomfort. If you’re uncomfortable with this method, ask your doctor if there are any alternate methods. After you provide your sample, you’ve completed your portion of the test. The sample will then be sent to a lab or remain in the hospital if they have the necessary equipment. Your doctor will then use one or more of the following methods to examine your urine: Microscopic examIn the microscopic exam, your doctor looks at drops of your urine under a microscope. They look for:
Dipstick testFor the dipstick test, your doctor inserts a chemically treated plastic stick into your sample. The stick changes color based on the presence of certain substances. This can help your doctor look for:
High concentrations of particles in your urine can indicate that you’re dehydrated. High pH levels can indicate urinary tract or kidney issues. And any presence of sugar can indicate diabetes. Visual examYour doctor can also examine the sample for abnormalities, such as:
When your urinalysis results are available, your doctor will review them with you. If your results appear abnormal, there are two options. If you’ve previously been diagnosed with kidney problems, urinary tract problems, or other related conditions, your doctor may order further tests or another urinalysis to identify the cause of the abnormal contents of your urine. If you have no other symptoms of an underlying condition and a physical exam shows that your overall health is normal, your doctor may not require a follow-up. Protein in your urineYour urine normally contains a negligible level of protein. Sometimes, protein levels in your urine can spike due to:
These factors aren’t usually a sign of any major issues. But abnormally high levels of protein in your urine can be a sign of underlying issues that can cause kidney disease, such as: Your doctor may order follow-up tests to identify any conditions causing abnormally high protein levels in your urine. If your urinalysis results come back abnormal, your doctor may require additional tests to determine the cause. These can include: Last medically reviewed on September 20, 2018
Related Information
Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Microscopic urinalysis is often done as part of an overall urinalysis. After a urine (pee) sample is collected, it's put into a centrifuge — a special machine that separates the liquid in the urine from any solid components that may be present, such as blood cells, mineral crystals, or microorganisms. Any solid materials are then viewed under a microscope. Why It's DoneThe results of a microscopic urinalysis may point to a urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney problems, a metabolic disorder such as diabetes, or a urinary tract injury. If test results are abnormal, other tests may be needed before a definite diagnosis can be made. PreparationCleansing the area around the urinary opening is required for the microscopic urinalysis. Your child might need to temporarily stop taking certain medications that could interfere with test results. The ProcedureYour child will be asked to urinate into a clean sample cup in the doctor's office, in the hospital, or at home. If your child isn't potty trained and can't urinate into a cup, a catheter (a narrow soft plastic tube) may need to be inserted into the bladder to obtain the urine specimen. The skin surrounding the urinary opening has to be cleansed just before the urine is collected. In this "clean-catch" method, you or your child cleanses the skin around the urinary opening with a special towelette (this might need to be done more than once). Your child then urinates, stops momentarily, and then urinates again into the collection container. Catching the urine in "midstream" is the goal. Be sure to wash your hands and your child's hands before and after this process. Collecting the specimen should only take a few minutes. Occasionally, if the doctor is concerned about a urinary problem that isn't due to an infection, a urine collection bag with adhesive tape on one end might be used to collect a sample from an infant. If you're doing the collection at home, you'll clean your baby's genital area and then arrange the bag around the urinary opening. Once the bag is in place, you'll secure it with the attached tape. You can put a diaper on your baby after you've attached the bag. You'll be instructed on how to remove the bag once your baby has urinated into it, usually within an hour. If you obtain the specimen at home, follow any storage and transportation instructions the lab gives you. PWhat to ExpectBecause the test involves normal urination, there shouldn't be any discomfort as long as your child can provide a urine specimen. Getting the ResultsThe time it takes to get the results of the microscopic urinalysis can vary, and your doctor will review them with you. If abnormalities are found, further tests may be needed. RisksNo risks are associated with collecting a midstream urine specimen for microscopic urinalysis. If a catheter is used to obtain the urine, it may cause temporary discomfort. Helping Your ChildThe routine microscopic urinalysis is painless. Explaining in simple terms how the test will be conducted and why it's being done can help ease any fear. If your doctor needs a clean-catch sample, make sure your child understands that the urinary opening must be clean and the urine must be collected midstream. If You Have QuestionsIf you have questions about the microscopic urinalysis, speak with your doctor. |