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.

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Visual Balance Check

Weighing the right way

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

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