Urine test (urine routine / urinalysis)

What does the Urine (Urinalysis) measure?

Urinalysis measures pH, specific gravity, protein, glucose, ketones, blood, leukocyte esterase, nitrite and microscopic cells and casts.

Why is the Urine (Urinalysis) ordered?

It is ordered to look into urinary symptoms, check the kidneys, and follow conditions such as diabetes.

Tests in this panel

Each test links to its own page with named reference-range sources.

Sources: [CLSI] [WHO] [KDIGO] [ADA] [American Urological Association] [Infectious Diseases Society of America]

• Urine pHThis reading places your urine on a scale from acidic to alkaline. It reflects the acid load your kidneys remove to keep your blood chemistry balanced.
• Urine Specific GravityThis reading compares the density of your urine against plain water, showing how much dissolved material it holds. It reveals whether your kidneys are packing waste tightly or flushing it out diluted.
• Urine ProteinA chemically treated test strip reacts with albumin and other proteins in the sample, giving a colour that estimates the amount present. Healthy kidney filters normally hold protein back in the blood.
• Urine GlucoseA chemically treated test strip reacts with any glucose that reaches the urine, producing a colour that estimates the amount. Normally the kidneys reabsorb glucose so none escapes.
• Urine KetonesA test strip reacts with acidic by-products called ketones, which the body produces while breaking down fat for fuel. A colour change shows how much has reached the urine.
• Urine BloodA test strip reacts with haemoglobin, the pigment inside red blood cells, and shows a colour if it is present. This flags even traces too faint to notice yourself.
• Leukocyte EsteraseA test strip detects an enzyme that white blood cells release. When the strip changes colour, it means those cells have gathered in the urinary tract and broken down.
• NitriteNitrite is a dipstick check for a substance that certain bacteria make in your urine. They form it from nitrates that come from your food.
• UrobilinogenUrobilinogen is a dipstick check for a breakdown product of bile in your urine. A small amount is normally there.
• MicroalbuminThis is a sensitive lab measure of small amounts of albumin, a blood protein, escaping into the urine. It detects leakage far below what an ordinary test strip can register.
• Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (ACR)This divides the albumin in a urine sample by its creatinine, a steady muscle by-product. Because creatinine tracks how concentrated the sample is, the ratio corrects for dilution.
• Urine RBCUrine RBC is a microscope count of red blood cells in your urine. The lab reports how many are seen in each view under the lens.
• Urine WBCA drop of urine is examined under a microscope and the white blood cells within it are counted. Higher numbers signal that the immune system is responding somewhere in the urinary tract.
• Epithelial CellsEpithelial cells are lining cells shed from your urinary tract or skin into the sample. The lab sorts them by type under the microscope.
• Urinary CastsCasts are tube-shaped moulds of protein that harden inside the kidney's filtering tubules and wash out into the urine. Their shape and any trapped cells reveal what is happening within those tubules.
• Urine CrystalsThese are solid particles that form when dissolved minerals and salts come out of solution in the urine. Under the microscope each type has a characteristic shape the lab identifies.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in the Urine (Urinalysis)?

Urinalysis measures pH, specific gravity, protein, glucose, ketones, blood, leukocyte esterase, nitrite and microscopic cells and casts. It typically reports 16 results: Urine pH, Urine Specific Gravity, Urine Protein, Urine Glucose, Urine Ketones, Urine Blood, Leukocyte Esterase, Nitrite, and more.

Why is the Urine (Urinalysis) ordered?

It is ordered to look into urinary symptoms, check the kidneys, and follow conditions such as diabetes.

How should the Urine (Urinalysis) be read as a whole?

No single value tells the full story — the results are read together, and each value is compared against the reference range printed on your own report, which can vary by lab, method and equipment.

Do the reference ranges in the Urine (Urinalysis) vary between labs?

Yes. Ranges depend on the laboratory's equipment and method, so the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result. Each test page names the standards body behind its range.