Urinalysis

A urinalysis (or "UA") is an array of tests performed on urine and one of the most common methods of medical diagnosis. A part of a urinalysis can be performed by using urine dipsticks, in which the test results can be read as color changes.

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Medical urinalysis

A typical medical urinalysis usually includes:

• a description of color and appearance
• specific gravity - This test detects ion concentration of the urine. Small amounts of protein or ketoacidosis tend to elevate results of the specific gravity.
• pH - the pH of healthy individuals ranges from around 4.8 to 7.5.
• ketone bodies
• protein
• urobilinogen
• bilirubin
• RBC number
• WBC number
• The hormone hCG: pregnancy may be checked for by screening a woman's urine for this. Home testing pregnancy tests have been developed for this purpose.
• Pyroluria

Microscopic examination

  The numbers and types of cells and/or material such as urinary casts can yield a great detail of information and may suggest a specific diagnosis.

• eosinophiluria - associated with allergic interstitial nephritis, atheroembolic disease
• RBC casts - associated with glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, malignant hypertension
• WBC casts - associated with acute interstitial nephritis, exudative glomerulonephritis, severe pyelonephritis
• (heme) granular casts - associated with acute tubular necrosis
• crystalluria -- associated with acute urate nephropathy (or "Acute uric acid nephropathy", AUAN)
• calcium oxalate - associated with ethylene glycol toxicity

See also

• uroscopy, the ancient form of this analysis
• Medical technologist