Increased levels of protein in urine can be a sign of kidney disease. Other tests, such as pregnancy testing and drug screenings, might rely on a urine sample, but these tests look for substances that aren't included in a typical urinalysis. If you're having only a urinalysis, you can eat and drink before the test. If you're having other tests, you might need to fast before the test.
Your health care provider will give you specific instructions. Many drugs, including nonprescription medications and supplements, can affect the results of a urinalysis. Before a urinalysis, tell your doctor about medications, vitamins or other supplements you take. You might collect a urine sample at home or at your health care provider's office. Providers typically give out containers for urine samples. You might be asked to collect the sample at home first thing in the morning, when your urine is more concentrated.
You might be instructed to collect the sample midstream, using a clean-catch method. This method involves the following steps:. In some cases, if needed, your provider can insert a thin, flexible tube catheter through the urinary tract opening and into the bladder to collect the urine sample.
The urine sample is sent to a lab for analysis. Doctors can also tell a lot from how your urine looks and smells.
For example dark urine could be a sign of dehydration; a cloudy appearance may suggest infection; if the urine is a reddish colour there may be blood in it; and a sweet smelling urine can be a sign of diabetes.
That helps the doctor know how best to treat the infection, including prescribing the right type of antibiotic one that particular microorganism is sensitive to. At the GP, the first test uses a dipstick or strip test sometimes called a rapid urine test. This involves dipping a specially treated plastic or paper strip into a urine sample collected in a sterile plastic pot. The doctor compares the colour of the test strip with a chart of standard colours. Then, the doctor sends off a sample of the urine to the laboratory for further testing.
There, a laboratory technician can view it under a microscope to look for bacteria and cells. If the white cell count is above a baseline level, or if organisms are identified and the patient has symptoms , an infection is very likely.
Further testing in the laboratory involves culturing the bacteria from the urine by growing it in a special medium and testing different antibiotics on it to see which one is most effective. How your urine sample is handled in hospital may be different. Home Common health questions Infections Back to Infections. How should I collect and store a pee urine sample? You should: collect your pee urine sample in a completely clean sterile container store it in a fridge in a sealed plastic bag if you can't hand it in straight away Collecting a urine sample Your doctor or another healthcare professional should give you a container and explain how you should collect the urine sample.
To collect a urine sample you should: label a sterile, screw-top container with your name, date of birth and the date wash your hands start to pee and collect a sample of urine "mid-stream" in the container screw the lid of the container shut wash your hands thoroughly Follow any other instructions your doctor has given you. What is a mid-stream urine sample? This reduces the risk of the sample being contaminated with bacteria from: your hands the skin around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body Storing a urine sample If you can't hand your urine sample in within 1 hour, you should put the container in a sealed plastic bag then store it in the fridge at around 4C.
Creatinine is a by-product of normal muscle activity, which is found in the urine and blood; bacteria and white blood cells are signs of infection. New dipstick tests don't just reveal that a substance exists in the urine; they also estimate how much of the substance is there. If there are large amounts of glucose, protein, or red blood cells, it is a warning that something is wrong.
Urinalysis also includes examining a small amount of urine under a microscope. Some of the things that may be seen in a microscope include: Red blood cells, which may be a sign of kidney diseases that damage the filtering units of the kidneys, allowing blood cells to leak into the urine. Blood in the urine may also be a sign of problems such as kidney stones, infections, bladder cancer or a blood disorder like sickle cell disease.
White blood cells are a sign of an infection or inflammation in the kidneys, bladder or another area. Bacteria is usually a sign of an infection in the body. Normal urine does not contain bacteria. Crystals that are formed from chemicals in the urine. If they become large enough, they form kidney stones. Urinalysis doesn't answer all the questions about your health.
It provides a clue.
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