Urinalysis can reveal diseases that have gone unnoticed because they do not produce striking signs or symptoms. Examples include diabetes mellitus, various forms of glomenilonephritis, and chronic urinary tract infections.
Albumin is normally absent in urine, but small amount may be present after strenuous exercise. Presence of albumin indicates kidney disease or urinary tract infection. A trace of albumin is quite common in females.
A count of less than 6 cells/ul of White Blood Cell (WBC) is seen in normal urine. High counts can be seen in kidney and urinary tract infection. Infection can be diagnosed by doing a culture test.
A count of less than 3 cells/ul of Red Blood Cell (RBC) is seen in normal urine. Presence of large amount of RBCs indicates urinary tract and renal disease or trauma. Strenuous exercise can result in a high count too.
Epithelial Cells (EC) lining the urinary tract can be seen in normal urine. Presence of large number of EC may indicate renal disease. High count in urine from females may be due to contamination from vaginal discharge.
Casts are formed when protein accumulates and precipitates in the kidney tubules and is washed into the urine. Presence of various casts, other than an occasional hyaline cast, may indicate renal disease. Presence of few casts may be seen in the urine of a normal person after exercise.
A variety of crystals may be found in normal urine. The formation of crystals is influence by the pH and temperature of the urine. Although most crystals have no clinical significance, there are some rare crystals, which appear because of certain metabolic disorders. Presence of crystal in large amounts and for prolong periods may lead to formation of stone.
The pH measures the degree of acidity or alkalinity of urine. PH below 7.0 indicates acidic urine, and pH above 7.0 indicates alkaline urine. The pH of urine may change with diet, medication, kidney disease, and metabolic diseases such as diabetic mellitus
Sugar (Glucose) is not present in the urine of a normal person. Sugar may be present in a condition called glycosuria, which indicates that the blood sugar level has exceeded the renal threshold. Urine sugar is commonly seen in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Ketones are excreted in the urine during incomplete metabolism of fats. Ketones may be present in diabetes, acute starvation or fasting.