Urinalysis test or urinalysis is an examination to analyze the physical, chemical, and microscopic conditions of urine. Urine testing is a very common diagnostic method performed in various health facilities or laboratories, because it is quite easy and inexpensive. The results of this test can be used to diagnose various diseases and conditions suffered by patients.
Although unable to diagnose a specific disease, a urine test can be early evidence of a health problem in a person. Urine tests will usually be combined with other more specific methods so that the condition or illness suffered can be accurately determined. This test can also be done routinely to monitor a person's health or to monitor a patient's health condition before undergoing a medical procedure.
Urine Test Indications
The doctor can recommend the patient to undergo a urine test for the following purposes:
- Routine health check. Health checks can be done routinely, generally every year, to monitor health conditions, especially for people with diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and liver disease.
- Diagnosis of a disease or medical condition. Through urine tests, the presence of a number of diseases can be detected. For example, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, diabetes, kidney damage, muscle damage (rhabdomyolisis), and liver disease. In addition, this test can also be done if the patient suffers from symptoms of certain diseases that can affect urine, such as abdominal pain, pain during urination, fever, or bloody urination.
- Monitor disease progression. Urine tests can be done to monitor whether a disease is getting worse or not. For example, to monitor the severity of diabetes.
- Monitor patient response to a treatment. In addition to monitoring the progress of the disease, urine tests can also be done to see whether the treatment given to patients is effective in curing the disease.
- Pregnancy test.
Urine tests can also be used to detect the use of certain drugs or chemical compounds in a person. Among others are:
- Amphetamine.
- Methamphetamine.
- Cocaine.
- Marijuana.
- Barbiturate.
- Benzodiazepines.
- Opium
- Phencyclidine.
Urine Test Warning
Urine tests are a safe method of sampling and analysis. So far there are no specific risks that can occur in patients undergoing this test.
Urine Test Preparation
Before taking a sample for a urine test, first notify the doctor about the drugs being consumed. Some drugs and supplements can affect the condition of urine, so the results of this test are inaccurate. For urine tests, there is actually no need for fasting, but urine tests are sometimes carried out together with other examinations that require fasting.
For those who are married, avoid having sex 12 hours before a urine test, because it is feared it can affect the results, although this still requires further research.
Urine Sampling Procedure
The method commonly used for urine sampling is the clean-catch method. The patient must clean the area of his genitals using sterile tissue, so that bacteria and cells around the genitals do not carry over into the sample. Female patients must clean the area of their genitals using sterile tissue from front to back. Do not forget to clean the vaginal secretions and menstrual blood if available, to avoid contamination of urine samples.
Remove the urine in about 1-2 seconds, and allow the urine to be discharged into the toilet. After that, just enter the next urine (which has not been removed) into the sample container up to as high as 3-6 cm from the bottom of the container. Then cover tightly so it does not spill or become contaminated. Clean the outside of the urine container using sterile tissue and wash your hands after sampling. Samples must be immediately taken to the laboratory for analysis. If it is not possible to be analyzed immediately, laboratory personnel will first enter the urine sample in the refrigerator.
Patients who cannot take urine samples independently can be helped using a catheter. A catheter is a small rubber hose that is placed through a urethra to help patients who cannot urinate. Urine samples taken in patients using catheters must be directly from the catheter tube, not from the catheter urine bag, to avoid contamination.
Analysis of Urine Samples
There are three types of analysis in urine tests, namely visual analysis, chemical analysis, and microscopic analysis. Visual analysis tests urine appearance based on color and clarity. Chemical analysis detects the chemicals contained in urine and their concentration. While microscopic analysis detects the presence of cells, crystals, bacteria, or fungi that can be contained in urine.
Visual analysis is usually done the first time to estimate the condition of urine and any substances contained in it. The color of urine usually varies from clear to dark yellow. If the color of the urine looks unusual, it can be a sign that the patient is suffering from an illness, or the color of the urine is affected by the food and drinks consumed. Healthy urine is usually clear yellow or slightly cloudy due to mucus, sperm, prostate fluid, or skin cells.
Urine chemical analysis is performed to check the chemical content in urine. One of the quickest and easiest ways to do this analysis is through a test strip. Laboratory personnel will dip a special strip into the urine to check the chemical content they want to know. The example is:
- urine pH.
- Protein content.
- Sugar content.
- Urine concentration.
- The content of ketones.
- The content of bilirubin.
- The presence of blood in urine.
The advantages of this test strip are easy, fast, and inexpensive. However, the drawback is that it is not very accurate, the information provided is limited, and is greatly influenced by the time of dipping the strip into the urine. Please note that the test strips only provide information about the presence or absence of abnormal parameters in the urine. If you want to know the content of these compounds accurately, it is necessary to analyze quantitative calculations in urine.
The final type of analysis, microscopic analysis, can be done as part of a urine test if needed, especially if visual and chemical analysis shows abnormal results. Urine will first be deposited to collect cells and other organic matter to make it easier to observe. After being deposited, the upper part of the urine deposits consisting of liquid will be removed, while the lower part of the solid form will be observed using a microscope. Some types of cells that can be observed through microscopic analysis of urine are:
- Red blood cells (erythrocytes). The presence of red blood cells in the urine (hematuria) is an abnormal condition, and we need to know the cause. In some cases, red blood cells can be contained in urine if there is bleeding from the vagina that disguises with urinary tract disease. Therefore, it is very important for patients to clean their genitals from blood and other fluids before taking urine samples.
- White blood cells (leukocytes). White blood cells are generally contained in urine in very small amounts. If there is an increase in the number of white blood cells in the urine, this can be a sign of infection or inflammation in the urinary tract.
- Epithelial cells. Epithelial cells in normal conditions can also be found in urine with low concentrations. If there is an infection or inflammation in the urinary tract, there will be an increase in the number of epithelial cells in the urine.
- Microbes. Under normal conditions, urine will always be in a sterile condition and does not contain microbes in it. The discovery of microbes in the urine indicates an infection. Microbes that can cause infection in a person are bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Keep in mind, if the process of cleaning the genitals is not correct when taking urine samples, microbes can also enter the urine and contaminate urine samples, and affect the results of the analysis. Therefore, genitals must be cleaned properly so that urine test results are more accurate.
After the Urine Test
Urine test results can indicate various conditions or diseases that are being experienced by patients. The doctor will compare the results of urine tests with symptoms that appear, so that it can be accurately known what disease is being suffered by the patient.
Normal urine test results do not necessarily indicate that a person is healthy. If someone complains of symptoms of certain diseases, but urine test results do not indicate abnormalities, then another follow-up is needed.
Some other types of urine tests that can support the results of a urine test include:
- Urine culture.
- Analysis of urine creatinine.
- Analysis of total urine protein and albumin.
- Analysis of urine calcium.
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