Urine Testing

Urinalysis is a diagnostic physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of a urine sample or specimen. Urine test checks the different components of the urine. The waste product secreted by the kidneys. . The kidneys take out waste material, minerals, fluids, and other substances from the blood to be passed in the urine. A urinalysis may include these different tests:

For the color, there are many factors that affect the color of the urine, including fluid balance, diet, medicines, and diseases. The dark or light the color tells you how much water is present and also vitamin B supplements may turn urine bright yellow. Clarity, normally urine is clear. Due to bacteria, blood, sperm, crystals, or mucus it may make urine look cloudy. Also in the odor, some diseases cause a change in the odor of urine. An example of this is an infection with E. coli bacteria which may cause a bad odor, while diabetes or starvation can cause a sweet odor. Protein normally is not found in the urine. Fever, hard exercise, pregnancy, and some diseases, especially kidney disease, are some factors for protein to be present in urine. Nitrates may be found in the urine. Bacteria that cause a urinary tract infection (UTI) make an enzyme that changes urinary nitrates to nitrites. Nitrites in urine show that UTI is present. Leukocyte esterase shows leukocytes in the urine. WBCs in the urine may mean a UTI is present. Ketones, This is when fat is broken down for energy where in these substances made by the body is called ketones and passed in the urine. Present of large amounts of ketones in urine may mean a very serious condition such as diabetic ketoacidosis may be present. A diet low in sugars and starches, starvation, or severe vomiting may also be a factor to cause ketones to be in the urine. Red blood cells and white blood cells normally are not found in the urine. Inflammation, disease, or injury to the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra can cause blood in urine. Strenuous exercise may also cause blood in the urine. White blood cells may be a sign of infection or kidney disease. Some types of kidney disease can cause plugs of material (called casts) to form in tiny tubes in the kidneys. The casts then get flushed out in the urine. Casts can be made of red or white blood cells, waxy or fatty substances, or protein. The type of cast in the urine can help show what type of kidney disease may be present. Healthy people may have a few crystals in their urine but a large number of crystals present, or certain types of crystals, may mean kidney stones are present or there is a problem with how the body is using food or the metabolism. There are no bacteria, yeast cells, or parasites in urine normally. But if present this may indicate that there is an infection. Glucose is the type of sugar found in blood. Normally there is very little or no glucose in urine. When the blood sugar level is very high the sugar spills over into the urine. Glucose can also be found in urine when the kidneys are damaged or diseased. If you have glucose in your urine, you are likely to have diabetes. Thus, if your urine contains any glucose you should have a blood test to measure the blood level of glucose to confirm whether diabetes is present.