Urine Analysis

A urine analysis (urinalysis) is a simple, non-invasive screening test that gives a broad picture of your kidney function, urinary tract health and metabolic status. It is suitable for anyone wanting a routine health check, for patients being monitored for kidney disease, diabetes, urinary tract infections or liver conditions, and for those investigating symptoms such as blood in the urine, pain on passing urine, or unexplained fatigue. The test is performed on a single urine sample, which is analysed using a combination of reagent strip (dipstick) chemistry and, where indicated, microscopic examination.

Physical and chemical properties
- pH level: indicates how acidic or alkaline your urine is, which can reflect diet, infection or kidney function
- Specific gravity (SG): shows how concentrated your urine is, giving an indication of hydration and the kidney's ability to concentrate urine
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C): assessed because high levels can interfere with other dipstick results, and it also reflects recent dietary intake

Kidney and protein markers
- Protein (PRO): detects protein leaking into the urine, an early sign of kidney damage
- Microalbumin (MALB): measures small amounts of albumin in the urine, a sensitive early indicator of kidney disease, particularly in diabetes and hypertension
- Creatinine (CRE): used to assess kidney filtration and to calculate the albumin-creatinine ratio
- Albumin-creatinine ratio (calculated): a key measure for detecting and monitoring early kidney damage, especially in people with diabetes or high blood pressure
- Calcium (CA): screens for elevated calcium in the urine, which can be linked to kidney stones or parathyroid disorders

Metabolic markers
- Glucose (GLU): the presence of glucose in urine can be a sign of diabetes or poor blood sugar control
- Ketones (KET): indicates fat breakdown, which can occur in uncontrolled diabetes, fasting or low-carbohydrate diets

Urinary tract and liver markers
- Blood (BLD): detects blood in the urine, which may indicate infection, stones, or kidney or urinary tract disease
- Bilirubin (BIL): the presence of bilirubin in urine can suggest liver or bile duct problems
- Urobilinogen (UBG): helps assess liver function and red blood cell breakdown
- Nitrite (NIT): a marker of certain bacterial urinary tract infections
- Leukocyte (LEU): detects white blood cells in the urine, indicating possible infection or inflammation

Why it matters
Urine analysis is one of the most useful and accessible screening tools in medicine. It can reveal early signs of kidney disease, diabetes, urinary tract infections and liver disorders long before symptoms appear, allowing timely investigation and management. Because it is quick, painless and requires only a urine sample, it is an ideal first-line test for both routine health checks and targeted clinical assessment.