How to Read a Urinalysis

A urinalysis is a test that is conducted at your doctor’s office that details various aspects of your health 1. A urinalysis can indicate problems with the kidneys or liver, an infection, chronic kidney disease, cystitis, cirrhosis, hepatitis, diabetes, and/or kidney stones. Once a urine sample is collected and a urinalysis is performed, the test compares different urine components against average or normal ranges. Reading a urinalysis takes a bit of work, but once understood, the test can prove quite revealing.

The Process

Collect one to two ounces of first morning urine in order to get the most accurate urinalysis reading possible. Dip a single dipstick into the urine and wait one minute for the chemical reaction to occur that causes the strip to change colors.

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Observe the urine odor to detect the presence of ketones, indicated by an unusual, fruitlike smell. Notice the urine’s coloring: dark urine is indicative of dehydration, while clear-colored urine may suggest overhydration.

Review and compare the dipstick chemical tests with the dipstick color chart to assess pH levels, the specific gravity, nitrate levels, protein levels, ketone presence, glucose levels, blood, and hemoglobins.

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Document the information directly under the color strip indicator to compare with normal levels. Normal levels for specific gravity are between 1.0 and 1.03. The pH levels must fall between 4.8 and 7.5. A good protein, glucose, and ketone test should prove negative. The positive presence of the hormone HCG may indicate pregnancy.

Compare the pH value of the urine with an optimal pH range of 6.0; higher pH may mean the presence of a urinary tract infection, gout or a fever.

Look for the positive presence of nitrate levels in the urine; there should be no nitrate in a healthy urine sample.

Look for urobilinogen that exceeds 17 umol/l; excessive urobilinogens may indicate a problem with the liver such cirrhosis or partial functioning.

Check the bilirubin levels, which should be no higher than 3 umol/l; if the bilirubin is elevated., an anemic condition, liver problems, or hepatitis may be present.

Look at the leukocytes levels and make sure they fall in the range of 0 to 10; if the test is elevated and out of normal range, the sample may reveal a kidney infection.

View a slide containing some of the urine with a microscope. Look for the presence of white blood cells and red blood cells; white blood cells indicate a potential infection while red blood cells indicate blood presence in the urine and/or a problem with the kidneys. The presence of parasitic life forms might indicate a viral infection.

Tips

If you are reading the results of a urinalysis directly from a report, you will find that the information is listed in a specific order. The first item on the report will indicate the coloring of the urine. The next item on the report is called the “specific gravity” which indicates the concentration of ions in the urine sample; results higher than 1.03 may indicate the presence of ketoacidosis or protein in the urine.

Glucose levels, ketones, and proteins will be listed with either a negative or positive finding on a urinalysis report. The preferred finding is negative since a positive finding in any of the latter areas is cause for concern. High levels of ketones might suggest the presence of diabetes, binge drinking, or malnutrition. High glucose levels are also indicative of diabetes, but leukocytes levels also suggest an overconsumption of sugary foods or beverages, stress, and the presence of a fever. Excessive proteins might indicate disease of the kidney.

The report will list the exact pH levels detected beside the appropriate reference range; if the pH level falls between the numbers in the reference range, the reading is normal.

Nitrate levels will be noted with a positive or negative finding on a urinalysis report.

Warnings

Presence of blood in the urine might indicate poisoning or kidney damage. If more than 3 ery/ul of hemoglobin are found in your urine, further tests will be required to rule out renal failure and/or poisoning.

The presence of nitrate in your urine can mean a severe viral infection, bacterial infection, or a dangerous condition like E coli or Salmonella. Further testing will rule out such conditions..