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.

Medical urinalysis


A typical medical urinalysis usually includes:


 * a description of color and appearance.
 * specific gravity - normally 1.010 to 1.030. This test detects ion concentration of the urine. Small amounts of protein or ketoacidosis tend to elevate results of the specific gravity.
 * pH - normally 4.8 to 7.5.
 * ketone bodies - normally negative (absent)
 * protein - normally negative (absent)
 * urobilinogen
 * bilirubin
 * glucose - normally negative (absent)
 * RBC number
 * WBC number
 * hCG - normally absent, this hormone appears in the urine of pregnant women. Home pregnancy tests commonly detect this substance.

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