Urinalysis in Details

A urinalysis is a test that checks several components of a urine sample. Visual, chemical, and microscopic tests are all part of a complete urinalysis.

Urinalysis is frequently used to screen for urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney and liver issues, and diabetes. A urinalysis may be performed during a routine check-up, to evaluate certain symptoms, or upon admission to the hospital. It is also a common test if you are pregnant. The purpose of a urinalysis test is to check for abnormalities in the appearance or composition of your urine. It is commonly used for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring different health conditions, such as kidney problems, diabetes, or UTIs.

Screening tests are used to detect health issues before symptoms appear, allowing for earlier treatment. Because some liver and kidney issues may not initially generate symptoms, a urinalysis test is often used to check the health of these organs. Urinalysis can also screen for underlying health problems during a pregnancy checkup or pre-surgery assessment, looking for unidentified health issues to reduce the risk of future complications. Diagnosis is the process of finding the cause of symptoms. When you begin to experience changes related to urination or other symptoms that can be tied to liver or kidney problems, a doctor may recommend urinalysis to help determine the cause. Urinalysis can help detect UTIs and other conditions that affect the function of the urinary system. Monitoring involves tests that follow the evolution of your condition. Urinalysis tests may be conducted periodically over time to see how well treatment is working or to see if the severity of a condition has changed.