Urinalysis (urine test)
A broad first-line urine test that checks many things at once — using a dipstick and, if needed, a microscope — to screen for urinary infection, kidney disease, diabetes and other problems. Rather than a single number, it reports a small panel of findings from a urine sample.
What it measures
Urinalysis is the routine examination of a urine sample, and it is one of the most widely used first-line tests in medicine. It has two main parts. The dipstick is a plastic strip with chemical pads that change colour to detect, in seconds, several things: protein (a sign of kidney damage), blood, glucose (which can point to diabetes), ketones, nitrites and leukocyte esterase (both suggesting a urinary infection), bilirubin, urine pH and how concentrated the urine is (specific gravity). If the dipstick is abnormal, or the clinical picture calls for it, the sample is examined under a microscope to look for red and white blood cells, bacteria, crystals and casts (tiny moulded structures from the kidney tubules that can indicate specific kidney diseases). Together, urinalysis is a cheap, fast, non-invasive screen that can pick up urinary tract infection, kidney disease, poorly controlled diabetes, blood in the urine and dehydration. Because it casts a wide net, an abnormal result is usually a starting point that points toward which more specific test to do next, rather than a final diagnosis in itself.
What a high value can mean
- Protein positive — possible kidney damage; usually followed by a UACR or urine protein-creatinine ratio.
- Blood positive — infection, stones, inflammation, or (rarely) tumours; needs follow-up.
- Nitrites and/or leukocytes positive — suggests a urinary tract infection.
- Glucose positive — points toward diabetes or a very high blood glucose.
- Ketones positive — fasting, low-carb diet, or, with high glucose, diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Abnormal microscopy — casts, crystals or many cells can indicate specific kidney or urinary conditions.
What a low value can mean
- A normal (negative) urinalysis — the reassuring result: no protein, blood, glucose, nitrites or leukocytes, with clear appearance.
- Note — a normal urinalysis does not rule out every kidney or urinary problem, so it is read with the clinical picture and blood tests.
When to discuss with a doctor
Urinalysis is a screening test, so its value is in pointing toward the next step rather than giving a final answer. A dipstick positive for nitrites and leukocytes in someone with urinary symptoms supports treating a urinary infection; protein or blood usually prompts confirmation and further kidney tests; glucose or ketones may lead to checking for diabetes. Many mild or one-off abnormalities (a trace of blood, protein after exercise) simply need repeating. Because it is so broad, urinalysis is almost always interpreted alongside symptoms and blood tests rather than alone. Mediora.AI surfaces the urinalysis findings alongside kidney markers and glucose so the overall pattern is visible and the right follow-up is clearer; interpreting the panel and deciding what to do next belongs with your doctor.