Urine Analysis
Urine analysis or urinalysis is simply a medical diagnostic procedure conducted on a person's urine sample for the purpose of disclosing the presence of some diseases.
This test is one of the most common diagnostic examinations performed in many heath centers, doctors' clinics, diagnostic laboratories and hospitals. The test is conducted by a medical technologist or a licensed diagnostic nurse.
Urine analysis is performed by collecting a urine sample of at least 10 to 15 ml in a specimen cup. The sample should be tested not longer than one hour after collection. The test could indicate unusually high amounts of specific substances in the urine, including red blood cells (RBC),white blood cells (WBC), nitrites, protein and glucose, among others.
This test is useful in finding out the presence of diseases like urinary tract infections (UTI) and kidney failure. Likewise, urinalysis is also used to check for the progression of patients with chronic ailments like diabetes and hypertension. It is also use to test a person for the presence of illegal drugs like methamphetamine and cannabis.
Urine analysis offers a snapshot result, meaning, the assessment of a person's urine is based on the sample urine at a given point in time. To determine the average volume of urine a person produces in a day or the average amount of a particular substance (such as urea nitrogen or protein) eliminated in a day, doctors instruct the collection of all of the urine production of a person in a 24-hour period.
Doctors use the results of this type of urine analysis (usually in combination with other diagnostic tests) to confirm the presence or determine the extent of more serious diseases like glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) and rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown).