Urinalysis, Complete

A health screening profile consisting of 10 or more component tests that is routinely ordered as part of an annual physical exam. This test can be used to screen for and monitor diseases and conditions, such as kidney stones, diabetes, urinary tract infections, and liver disease. This is not a drug test.

Preparation: You will be asked to provide a urine specimen at the Patient Service Center. At the Patient Service Center, a technician will provide you with a container and a private lavoratory for the collection.

Urinalysis component tests include these tests:

• Color: reddish brown urine may be caused by certain medications, diet, or blood.
• Clarity (turbidity): clear is normal; bacteria, blood, mucus, crystals can produce cloudy urine.
• Odor: E. coli can cause foul odor, diabetes can cause sweet, fruity odor.
• Specific Gravity: indicates how well the kidneys are able to adjust the level of water in urine.
• pH: urine pH may be adjust by certain types of treatment, e.g. in prevention of kidney stones.
• Protein: none is normal, protein can be caused by exercise, fever, pregnancy or kidney disease.
• Glucose: none or little is normal, higher levels can be due to diabetes or kidney problems.
• Nitrites: presence may indicate urinary track infection (UTI)
• Leukocyte esterase: detect WBC & may indicate UTI
• Ketones: large amounts could indicate diabetic ketoacidosis; also low carb diet can cause this.
• Red or White Blood Cells: normally not in urine, requires follow-up to determine cause.
• Casts: presence may indicate kidney disease
• Crystals: large amounts may indicate kidney stones, metabolism problem.
• Bacteria: normally none, presence may indicate infection.

These are not intended as diagnostic comments, but only to give you sufficient information for further discussion with your physician. It is important that you promptly consult your physician regarding any abnormal findings.