A urine test — a urinalysis — is quick, painless and surprisingly informative. From a single sample it can hint at urinary infections, kidney problems, dehydration, diabetes and more. Here's how to read the results and which findings actually need follow-up.
The three parts of a urinalysis
A full urinalysis has up to three stages: a visual check of colour and clarity, a chemical dipstick test that changes colour to detect various substances, and — if needed — a microscopic look for cells, crystals and bacteria.
What the dipstick markers mean
- Protein — small amounts can be harmless, but persistent protein can flag kidney strain
- Glucose — sugar in urine can point toward high blood sugar or diabetes
- Blood — may come from infection, stones or other causes, and needs context
- Leukocytes and nitrites — together they strongly suggest a urinary tract infection
- Ketones — appear with fasting, low-carb diets or uncontrolled diabetes
- pH and specific gravity — reflect hydration and acid balance more than disease
One finding rarely tells the whole story
Urinalysis results are read together, not in isolation. Leukocytes plus nitrites plus symptoms make a UTI likely; a trace of protein on its own in someone who feels well often just needs a repeat test. Your doctor combines the dipstick, the microscope and how you feel to reach a conclusion.
Things that can skew the result
A sample can be affected by dehydration, recent intense exercise, certain foods and vitamins that change urine colour, menstrual blood, or a sample that wasn't collected cleanly. A mid-stream sample into a clean container gives the most reliable reading.
When to follow up
Signs of infection usually need treatment, and persistent protein or blood warrants further tests. Keep your results so that if a marker shows up again, you and your doctor can see whether it's a one-off or a pattern worth investigating.