| Urine analysis (or urinalysis, as it is commonly | | | | diabetes. |
| known) refers to a wide range of different tests | | | | Urinalysis can be used to diagnose some bacterial |
| which are employed in both human and veterinary | | | | and viral infections, such as E. coli, which is |
| medicine for a variety of screening and diagnostic | | | | detectable in urine tests when a positive result is |
| applications. | | | | obtained from a nitrite test. Gram-negative rod |
| There are even forms of urinalysis testing | | | | shaped bacteria (including E. coli) tend to produce |
| systems which are available to the consumer | | | | these results in when a urine analysis procedure is |
| over the counter (many home pregnancy tests, | | | | performed. Urine may also be tested for the |
| for example). Whether to establish a diagnosis on | | | | presence of bacteria by being cultured and |
| the basis of the presence of microbes or the | | | | bacterial colonies counted. |
| telltale signs of microbial activity in the urine, to | | | | The specific gravity of the urine is also generally |
| measure the content of specific compounds or | | | | measured as part of urinalysis procedures - the |
| metabolites in the urine such as in drug testing | | | | specific gravity can reveal much about the state |
| applications or any of the numerous other | | | | of the patient's health, particularly as this relates |
| applications, urine analysis is often an important | | | | to their kidneys. This measurement is made by |
| part of health maintenance and courses of | | | | comparing the urine's specific gravity compared to |
| therapeutic treatment. | | | | that of plain water. |
| The first step in most urinalysis procedures is to | | | | The pH of the urine is measured using a dipstick |
| visually inspect the urine, checking for cloudiness in | | | | and the urine is also checked for the levels of |
| the urine which may indicate an abnormally large | | | | ketones (compounds produced by the breakdown |
| amount of proteins or other cellular material in the | | | | of fats by the digestive system). The |
| urine. The color of the urine is also examined, | | | | concentration of ketones in the urine can indicate |
| since color can indicate certain conditions; for | | | | diabetes or a insufficient caloric intake, among |
| example, a red or reddish brown cast in a urine | | | | other conditions. Urine analysis may also include |
| sample is often a sign of hemoglobin or myglobin | | | | testing for the presence of lysed white blood |
| in the urine (though it can also be caused by | | | | cells, something which is often symptomatic of a |
| some drugs, food coloring additives or even | | | | urinary tract infection. |
| eating fresh beets). | | | | Naturally, a diagnosis is not made on the basis of |
| Protein screening is another common urine | | | | a urine test alone; a more general examination of |
| analysis task, particularly in the case of patients | | | | the patient is also made before any diagnosis can |
| providing a cloudy or otherwise turbid urine | | | | be definitively established. Urinalysis is just one |
| sample; a protein screen can determine if the | | | | part of the diagnostic process, but one which is a |
| patient may be suffering from nephritic syndrome | | | | very important step in assessing the health of |
| or other kidney ailments. Urine is also commonly | | | | patients and determining the most appropriate |
| screened for glucose content, an excessive | | | | course of treatment. |
| amount of which in the urine generally indicated | | | | |