Urinalysis

Summary

A urinalysis is a test of your urine. It is often done to check for a urinary tract infections, kidney problems, or diabetes. You may also have one during a checkup, if you are admitted to the hospital, before you have surgery, or if you are pregnant. It can also monitor some medical conditions and treatments.

A urinalysis involves checking the urine for:

• Its color
• Its appearance (whether it is clear or cloudy)
• Any odor
• The pH level (acidity)
• Whether there are substances that are not normally in urine, such as blood, too much protein, glucose, ketones, and bilirubin
• Whether there are cells, crystals, and casts (tube-shaped proteins)
• Whether it contains bacteria or other germs

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Specifics

• Bacteria Culture Test National Library of Medicine
• Bilirubin in Urine National Library of Medicine
• Blood in Urine National Library of Medicine
• Crystals in Urine National Library of Medicine
• Foamy Urine: What Does It Mean? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Nitrites in Urine National Library of Medicine
• Protein in Urine National Library of Medicine
• Urine Color Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Urine Odor Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Urobilinogen in Urine National Library of Medicine

Patient Handouts

• Bilirubin – urine Medical Encyclopedia
• Clean catch urine sample Medical Encyclopedia
• Glucose urine test Medical Encyclopedia
• Ketones urine test Medical Encyclopedia
• RBC urine test Medical Encyclopedia
• Urinalysis Medical Encyclopedia
• Urine odor Medical Encyclopedia
• Urine pH test Medical Encyclopedia
• Urine protein dipstick test Medical Encyclopedia
• Urine specific gravity test Medical Encyclopedia

Teenagers

• Blood in the Urine (Hematuria) Nemours Foundation

Children

• Blood in the Urine (Hematuria) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Urine Test: Dipstick (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Urine Tests (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinalysis National Institutes of Health

Diagnosis and Tests

• Epithelial Cells in Urine National Library of Medicine
• Mucus in Urine National Library of Medicine

Videos and Tutorials

• Getting a Urine Test (For Kids) Nemours Foundation

Encyclopedia

• Leucine aminopeptidase – urine Medical Encyclopedia
• Leukocyte esterase urine test Medical Encyclopedia
• Urinary casts Medical Encyclopedia
• Urine – abnormal color Medical Encyclopedia
• Urine – bloody Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Journal Articles

• Urinalysis

Start Here

• Urinalysis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research