Urine Tests (urinalysis)

Urinalysis

The human body is a complex and fascinating machine, and urine is one of the key ways it communicates its internal state. Urinalysis, also known as a urine test or UA, is a simple and non-invasive procedure that analyzes your urine to assess your overall health and detect potential abnormalities. This guide will go over everything you need to know about urinalysis.

What is a Urinalysis?

A urinalysis is a series of tests performed on a urine sample to evaluate various aspects of your health. Specifically, it examines the physical, chemical, and microscopic properties of your urine to identify substances that may be indicative of underlying medical conditions.

Why is a Urinalysis Performed?

Urinalysis serves as a versatile tool used for various purposes in healthcare settings. Accordingly, here are some common reasons a doctor would order a urinalysis:

• Routine Check-up: A urinalysis can provide a general picture of your health and screen for potential problems.
• Diagnosis of Specific Conditions: Urinalysis remains a crucial tool in diagnosing various conditions, including:
  
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Signs of infection like white blood cells (WBCs) and bacteria in the urine can be detected through urinalysis.
  • Kidney Disease: Abnormal levels of protein, red blood cells (RBCs), or casts (cylindrical structures formed in the kidney) can indicate kidney dysfunction.
  • Diabetes: High levels of glucose (sugar) in the urine can be a sign of poorly controlled diabetes.
  • Liver Disease: Elevated bilirubin levels in the urine can suggest liver problems.
• Monitoring Existing Conditions: Urinalysis can be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for certain conditions like diabetes or kidney disease.
• Pregnancy Monitoring: Urinalysis is routinely performed during pregnancy to screen for preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine.

Types of Urinalysis

There are two main types of urinalysis:

Dipstick Test

This is the most common type of urinalysis. It involves dipping a test strip (dipstick) into a urine sample. The dipstick contains chemicals that react with specific substances in the urine, changing color to indicate their presence or absence. As a result, this initial screening can reveal abnormalities in:

• pH (acidity level)
• Protein
• Glucose
• Ketones (waste products produced when the body breaks down fat for energy)
• Blood
• Nitrites (associated with bacterial infections)
• Leukocyte esterase (an enzyme produced by white blood cells, an indicator of inflammation or infection

Microscopic Urinalysis

Further, if the dipstick test reveals abnormalities, a microscopic examination of the urine sample may be performed as well. Incidentally, this involves analyzing the urine under a microscope to identify:

• Red blood cells (RBCs): Presence of RBCs can indicate bleeding in the urinary tract, kidney stones, or other issues.
• White blood cells (WBCs): Increased WBCs are typically associated with infection.
• Casts: Formed from proteins, red blood cells, or white blood cells and may indicate kidney problems.
• Crystals: Different types of crystals can be present in urine, some harmless and others potentially indicative of specific conditions like dehydration or kidney stones.
• Bacteria or yeast: Presence of these can suggest a urinary tract infection.

How to Prepare for a Urinalysis

Testing requires minimal preparation. Therefore, here’s what you can expect:

• Drinking Fluids: Increase your fluid intake on the day of the test to produce a sufficient urine sample.
• Dietary Restrictions: Also in some cases, avoiding certain foods or drinks before the test, such as those that can affect the color of your urine (e.g., beets, certain vitamins).
• Collecting the Sample: You will be provided with a sterile container for collecting a midstream urine sample. This means collecting the urine after discarding the first part of your urination and then collecting the midstream portion in the container.
• Contamination: It’s important to avoid contaminating the sample with menstrual blood, vaginal discharge, or soap residue during collection.

Take Action Now

Naturally we all enjoy good health, so don’t wait to take control of your health. That said, if you want to have a urinalysis performed to check for any medical abnormalities, contact 1st Health Medical & Cardiology.

Schedule an appointment today.