Urinalysis
A urinalysis is a common test used to analyze urine and diagnose possible abnormalities. This test can be performed in the doctor's office simply by collecting a urine sample from the patient. It can help detect the presence of infection or diseases that may not show any symptoms.
Urinalysis may be used to check for the presence of the following, to diagnose certain diseases or conditions:
- PH levels
- Protein
- Glucose
- Blood
- Bacteria
- Red or white blood cells
- Nitrites
- To measure hormone levels-especially in pregnancy
Urinalysis is used to detect various conditions and diseases, some of which may include:
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney stones and/or kidney disease
- Bladder Infections
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
Urinalysis may also be performed to monitor chronic conditions.
A similarly straightforward test is a physical observation of the urine sample which measures physical characteristics of the urine. In addition, a microscopic analysis of the sample may be initiated, where a sample of urine is examined under a microscope by looking for indications of infection, bacteria, or white blood cells in the urine. It may also be examined for the presence of glucose, protein and other substances, which can be indicators of certain conditions.