Urinalysis
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
A urinalysis is a test of your urine. It is often done to check for a urinary tract infection, kidney problems, or diabetes. You may also have one during a checkup, if you are admitted to the hospital, before you have surgery, or if you are pregnant. It can also monitor some medical conditions and treatments.
A urinalysis involves checking the urine for:
- Its color
- Its appearance (whether it is clear or cloudy)
- Any odor
- The pH level (acidity)
- Whether there are substances that are not normally in urine, such as blood, too much protein, glucose, ketones, and bilirubin
- Whether there are cells, crystals, and casts (tube-shaped proteins)
- Whether it contains bacteria or other germs
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- Epithelial Cells in Urine · National Library of Medicine
- Mucus in Urine · National Library of Medicine
Questions for your care team
General prompts to help prepare for your appointment.
- How does this information apply to my situation?
- Which symptoms or results need evaluation?
- Which tests are useful, and what can they tell us?
- What care options, benefits, and risks should we discuss?
- When should I seek urgent help, and whom should I call?
- When is follow-up, and how will we know whether the plan is working?
For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number.
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