Urinalysis

A urinalysis can be conducted for various reasons:

General health check-up: As part of routine examinations, urine can be analyzed to obtain early indications of possible diseases.

Diagnosis of specific symptoms: In cases of complaints such as abdominal or back pain, frequent or painful urination, or visible blood in the urine, urinalysis helps identify the cause.

Monitoring existing conditions: For already diagnosed diseases, such as chronic kidney diseases or diabetes, regular urine tests allow for the assessment of disease progression and therapy effectiveness.

For a meaningful urine analysis, correct sample collection is crucial:

1. Cleaning: Before collecting the sample, the genital area should be thoroughly cleaned to avoid contamination.

2. Midstream urine: It is recommended to release the first part of the urine stream into the toilet and only catch the middle stream for sampling in the sterile container.

3. Quick processing: The sample should ideally be analyzed within an hour of collection. If this is not possible, it should be stored refrigerated until examination.

The urinalysis includes several areas of examination:

• Visual assessment: The color and clarity of the urine can provide initial indications of diseases. Cloudy urine, for example, may indicate an infection.

• Chemical analysis using test strips: Various substances in the urine are detected:

  • pH value: Provides information about the acidity of the urine. Deviations can indicate metabolic disorders or urinary tract infections.

  • Protein: The presence of protein can be a sign of kidney diseases.

  • Glucose: Sugar in the urine often indicates diabetes mellitus.

  • Ketones: These are produced during fat breakdown and can occur in uncontrolled diabetes or strict diets.

  • Bilirubin and urobilinogen: Elevated levels can indicate liver diseases or hemolysis.

  • Blood: The presence of blood can be caused by infections, stones, or tumors in the urinary tract.

• Microscopic examination: Under the microscope, components such as cells, crystals, or bacteria are identified:

  • Erythrocytes (red blood cells): Can indicate bleeding in the urinary tract.

  • Leukocytes (white blood cells): An increased occurrence suggests inflammation or infection.

  • Bacteria: Their detection confirms a bacterial infection.

  • Casts: These cylindrical structures form in the renal tubules and can occur in various kidney diseases.

The urinalysis is an easy-to-perform yet highly informative diagnostic tool. It quickly provides indications of a variety of diseases, thus supporting early diagnosis and initiation of therapy. Correct sample collection and timely analysis are crucial for the reliability of the results.