Urine Studies I: Urinalysis

Urinalysis examines the physical, chemical, and microscopic properties of urine.

The physical examination assesses color, clarity, odor, and specific gravity.

Normal urine ranges from pale yellow to amber; dark amber may suggest dehydration, while red or brown hues could indicate blood or liver issues. Cloudy urine might signal infection or high mineral content.

A fruity odor suggests diabetic ketoacidosis, while a specific gravity of 1.005–1.030 indicates concentration, with higher values reflecting dehydration.

The chemical examination uses dipsticks to measure pH, protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, urobilinogen, blood, nitrites, and leukocyte esterase.

High protein levels suggest kidney damage; glucose and ketones indicate diabetes, and bilirubin or urobilinogen signals liver disease. Blood, nitrites, and leukocyte esterase indicate infection.

Finally, microscopic analysis detects red and white blood cells, which suggest trauma or infection. Excess epithelial cells indicate tubular injury, while crystals suggest kidney stones.