Urinalysis Tests: Purpose, Parameters, Preparations and Procedure

What is Urinalysis?

Urinalysis, also known as a urine test, is a diagnostic procedure that is done to determine if there is any infection in the kidney, bladder, or any other part of the urinary tract. This test is also done before the surgery, check pregnancy and to determine the overall health of the patient. 

Urinalysis is a group of tests that is done to determine if there is any abnormal amount of protein, ketone bodies, blood, and other chemical entities present in the blood

What is the Purpose of Urinalysis?

Urine routine test, microscopic examination test, or urinalysis serves many purposes; it helps in determining the health of our urinary system. The purpose of the urine routine test is listed below:

• This test can help in identifying urinary tract infections by identifying the presence of bacteria and white blood cells in the urine.
• This test can help in identifying the kidney-related disease or urinary tract disease at an early stage by determining whether there is a presence of abnormal levels of protein, blood, and other substances in the urine
• This test also helps in determining the ability of the kidney to dilute urine and tells us how efficiently our kidney is working
• It can also help in detecting the condition called haematuria, in which there is a presence of blood in the urine. Haematuria can be due to many serious health conditions.

When Should I Take the Urine Routine Test?

Urinalysis should be a part of your routine monitoring checkup plan to identify any disease at an early stage. However, if you are showing the below-listed symptoms, then you should get yourself tested as soon as possible:

• Abdominal pain
• Blood in the urine
• Frequent urination
• Difficulty in peeing
• Foamy urine
• Itching
• Burning sensation while peeing
• Change in urine colour
• Swelling in the lower limbs

What Parameters Are Checked in the Urine Routine R/M Test?

Total three different parameters are checked in the urine RE/ME test. These parameters are listed below:

1. Physical Examination: The physical examination of your urine is based on the visual presentation of the urine. It determines whether there is any change in the colour of urine, which can be due to dehydration or the presence of blood in the urine, or whether you have a cloudy or foamy type of urine, which indicates the presence of infection or problems related to kidney disease.
2. Chemical Examination: This examination is done by using theurine test strip and is also called the dipstick test. There are many parameters that are assessed in chemical examination. These parameters are listed below:
   • Presence of protein in the urine: protein is generally not present in the urine; if it is present, then it clearly indicates that the kidney is not functioning properly.
   • pH of the urine:  normal pH of the urine is 4.6 to 8, and variation can indicate UTI, presence of kidney stones, or any other disease.
   • Presence of glucose in urine: If your chemical examination shows that you have glucose or sugar in your urine, then it clearly indicates that you might have diabetes.
   • Presence of bilirubin. This compound is generally not excreted in the urine. Bilirubin generally occurs in the body after the breakdown of haemoglobin; the presence of bilirubin in the urine is an indication of liver disease.
3. Microscopic Examination: In this type of examination, your urine sample will be analyzed under the microscope. This test is designed to check for components that are generally not present in the urine.
   • Detect the presence of bacteria
   • Detect the presence of any calcium oxalate crystals
   • Red blood cells in urine 
   • White blood cells in urine

What Preparations Are Required Before the Urine Routine Test?

• Tell your doctor if you are taking any medication
• Fasting is not required for this test
• Avoid the consumption of alcohol and smoking before the test
• Your doctor may advise you not to take any food items that can add colour to your urine or cause the discolouration of your urine, such as beetroot.

What is the Procedure for the Urine Routine and Microscopic Examination Test?

The procedure for the urine routine test is very simple 

• Your technician will give you the sterile container in which you need to collect your urine sample
• First, you need to take the container and go to the washroom
• Wash your hands and start urinating
• Collect the midstream urine  in the container
• After the urine sample collection closed the container with the lid and give it back to the technician
• After this, your urine sample will be sent to the lab for further analysis

When Do Doctors Recommend for Urine Routine and Microscopic Examination of Urine?

Your healthcare provider will ask you to take a urine routine test for various reasons. Some of the most common reasons are listed below:

• Many times, doctors advise this test as a part of a routine health checkup just to determine the overall health of the body and to determine if any disease is developing silently in the body.
• If you already have kidney disease or have a history of kidney diasease then your doctor might also recommend this test just to determine the severity of your kidney disease and how efficiently your kidney is working.
• This test is recommended by the doctor to determine the overall health of the urinary tract, as well as whether any kind of infection is present in the urinary tract.
• If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or hypertension, then this test is commonly recommended by doctors just to determine whether these conditions are also affecting the functions of the kidney or causing any kind of damage to the kidney.
• This test is also recommended before the surgery just to make sure that your kidney and urinary tract is function propelry before the surgery, and there are no alarmings sign present which might require special attention before or during the surgery.

Conclusion

A urine routine test is the most commonly ordered test, and it should be a part of your routine health checkup. This test not only helps in determining the severity of the disease but also helps in determining any potential signs that can help in diagnosing the serious disease at an early stage. Prevention is always better than cure, so look no further and book your urine routine microscopic examination test from City Imaging & Clinical Labs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the full form for Urine RE/ME test?

The full form for the Urine RE/ME test is urine routine and microscopic examination.

Do I need to fast for a urine routine test?

No, fasting is not required for this test

What is the urine routine and microscopy test price in Delhi?

The urine routine test price in Delhi may range from INR 100 to 500; The prices may vary based on the location and the services provided by the diagnostic test centres.