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Urinalysis is a simple urine test that also provides valuable information about the state of the body. When should a urine test be performed? How to properly collect its sample for testing? Find out how to interpret your urine test results.

It is worth doing at least once a yearurine test .The result of the urine testwill allow you to assess not only the functioning of the urinary system, but also many other organs .

The urine is 96 percent water, the rest is urea, mineral s alts and bile pigments.

Interpretation of the urine test resultbelongs to the doctor, because the results are influenced, among others, by age, sex, pregnancy, medications, but it is also worth finding out for yourself what the individual parameters mean.

Urine Testing: Basic Parameters

  • Color or color of urineUrine dye is urochrome, it gives yellow color of various shades - depending on the degree of urine concentration. Changes in the color of urine can be caused by certain dietary components (e.g. red beets), but also by medications, contrast agents and colored compounds produced by the body. A red tinge does not necessarily signify blood content. They are caused, for example, by substances secreted in excess by the body. These include myoglobinuria (occurs after a muscle injury), hemoglobinuria (the effect of the breakdown of blood cells), porphyrins (found in porphyria - an enzyme deficiency disease). The brown color is caused, for example, by bilirubin and phenol compounds (due to poisoning with this substance). On the other hand, the black color may suggest the presence of melanin.

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  • Urine clarityThe urine of a he althy person should be clear or slightly opalescent. Clouding is sometimes the result of the presence of red blood cells (they can be a symptom of inflammation of the urinary system or vagina, but also bladder cancer), leukocytes and bacteria (also indicating inflammation), as well as s alts, e.g. uric acid (in gout), epithelium and fat.
  • Urine specific gravityThe norm is 1018-1030 g / l. Density increases with large amounts of protein, glucose, or metabolites of various drugs. Reduced density is associated with some diseases, such as diabetes insipidus or chronic renal failure.

Appearanceany abnormalities as a result of the test in the first place require its repetition. If the result is confirmed, further tests recommended by an internist are required.

  • Urine pHThe average correct value is 6. People who eat large amounts of meat have less. Alkaline urine (over 6) is characteristic of people on a vegetarian or dairy diet. Alkaline reaction can also be caused by elevated potassium levels, chronic renal failure or hyperparathyroidism. It will also show up when urine is kept at room temperature for too long. Strongly acidic reaction (pH below 5) may appear in states of dehydration and fever.
  • Urobilinogen"+" is the correct result, "+++" is jaundice, and no substance is cholestasis.

Urine analysis - undesirable substances

  • Bacteria, fungi, parasitesThey are not found in the urine of a he althy person, their presence indicates that they are infected with the urethra, bladder, renal pelvis or kidneys.
  • Protein in urineIn the urine of a he althy person there should be no protein in the urine. However, it may appear with fever, frostbite or high physical exertion. When it lasts longer, it suggests problems with the kidneys (such as glomerulonephritis) or urinary tract problems. Protein in the urine also appears in the case of cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, systemic lupus, glomerulonephritis, heart failure, leukemia, poisoning (lead or mercury).
  • SugarThere should be no sugar in the urine of a he althy person. Its presence in subsequent analyzes proves diabetes; only small amounts of glucose in the urine are allowed in pregnant women. If you already have diabetes, it means that the disease is not being properly treated. Sugar in the urine may also be present in people taking intravenous fluids, in adrenal gland disease, liver disease or kidney disease, with brain damage and in some poisonings.
  • Ketone bodiesThey should not be in the urine, although in the case of pregnant women, there may be a physiological amount of them. Ketone bodies in the urine indicate disorders of carbohydrate and fat metabolism, poorly treated diabetes, alcoholism. In a one-off examination, the presence of ketone bodies is often the result of fever, vomiting, starvation (eating disorders - anorexia or bulimia), and the use of a fatty diet.
  • BilirubinExceeding the norm of total bilirubin occurs in jaundice, during pregnancy and in newborns. Increased levels of bound bilirubin havepeople with viral hepatitis, it also occurs with organ damage as a result of poisoning, liver cirrhosis, metabolic diseases, hepatic cholestasis.
  • CreatinineIts amount in urine is constant and depends on muscle mass. Its concentration is reduced in acute or chronic renal failure.
  • White blood cells (leukocytes)In the urine of a he althy person there are no or a small number of them in the visual field (WPW), their excessive excretion indicates acute or chronic bacterial urinary tract infection. It can also be a symptom of interstitial nephritis with certain medications, e.g. spfonamides, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. More leukocytes pass into the urine during exercise, fever, dehydration, chronic circulatory failure and inflammatory changes in organs adjacent to the urinary system.
  • Red blood cells (erythrocytes)The urine of a he althy person does not contain them at all or there is a small number of them in the visual field (WPW), their presence is the most common symptom of urinary tract diseases . Haematuria (a small loss of red blood cells invisible to the eye) or haematuria may be caused by damage to both the kidneys and other parts of the urinary tract. The most common cause is kidney stones, especially an attack of renal colic. But blood in the urine also appears in tuberculosis, blood clotting disorders, circulatory failure, and cirrhosis. Taking medications that contain heparin may also increase the number of red blood cells in your urine.
  • Uric acidExceeding the norm indicates acute or chronic renal failure, a greater amount also occurs with some diuretics, with carbon monoxide poisoning, lead poisoning and in many neoplastic diseases. The decreased uric acid excretion occurs as a consequence of a purine-poor diet. These compounds are found in small amounts in chickens, beef, halibut, mushrooms, asparagus, bread, wheat rolls, groats, fruit, vegetables, and also nuts.
  • UreaIncreased urea content indicates a high-protein diet, dehydration or kidney failure.
  • SedimentMay contain single leukocytes, erythrocytes and epithelia, as well as a small amount of mineral compounds (amorphous sediment). The pellet should not contain bacteria or rolls, e.g. glassy, ​​cellular or granular.

How to get a sample for urine analysis

In order for the test result to be reliable, some must be followedrules. First of all, you need to have a suitable vessel - it is best if it is a special sterile urine container (you can buy it at a pharmacy).

Correctly collected urine sample should be tested within 4 hours.

Since various impurities may make the interpretation of the result difficult, urine should be collected after thorough washing.

It should also be remembered that the initial stream contains the most impurities, so we urinate from the so-called middle stream. It is best when it is morning urine.

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Daily urine collection - norms and interpretation of results

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