Urine Routine Test

A urine routine test is done to find out the presence of toxins, crystals, bacteria, and infectious elements in the urine.

The test checks the concentration, appearance, and contents of the passed-out urine to detect harmful bacteria and toxins. The urine routine test results help the doctors and lab technicians know the exact issue and provide the appropriate medication or treatment.

The doctors have three reasons to prescribe the urine routine test. These are:

• Overall health analysis: Sometimes, the doctor might recommend taking the urinalysis test. They may form a part of the routine health checkup or can be done during pregnancy. The urine routine test is also done as a part of pre-surgery preparation and to screen out possible disorders.
• To detect disorders: There are a few conditions when doctors prescribe this test. The urine routine test is used for the diagnosis of:
• UTI
• Kidney disorders
• Presence of blood in the urine
• Monitoring and evaluating the patient’s condition: The doctor may ask for frequent urine routine samples as a part of the post-surgery procedure to evaluate the patient’s health.

In India, urinary tract infections are more common in women than in men. In addition, it is more so common in women who are in their reproductive and menopausal stages. Poor hygiene, weak immunity, and lifestyle changes are some of the common causes behind the same. Therefore, routine urine checkups are essential to take necessary preventative measures.

The test for urine routine requires submitting your urine in a small bottle. The technicians check for specific markers indicating the presence of bacteria.

Urinary Tract Infections, Diabetes

A urine routine test checks for the presence of bacteria and physical components like blood, WBCs, crystals, casts, etc., in the urine. The presence of these components guides the doctor in the right direction to provide effective treatment.

Out of all the parameters listed, blood and bilirubin in the urine can point to some serious liver issues like hepatitis A. The presence of blood indicates infection in the kidneys, urinary tract or liver. It can also be a sign of bladder cancer or an outcome of excessive exercise straining the body over the normal limit.

A urine routine test is prescribed when one faces symptoms like:

• Stomach ache
• Pain during urination
• Frequent urination
• The volume of urine passed out is not much.
• Fever
• Abdominal pain without any clear indications of the same

A urine routine test is prescribed for everyone experiencing the above-given symptoms. Any individual irrespective of age and sex can develop these issues and can be prescribed a urine routine test for urine analysis.

The urine routine test is for the following health conditions:

• UTI
• Diabetes
• Liver diseases
• Kidney issues

The urine routine test is done to determine the exact source of the issue in your stomach, urinary tract, kidney and livers.

A person with urinary tract infections or symptoms of one, kidney disorders, liver issues can be asked to take the urine routine test.

Pregnant women are also asked to submit their urine samples for test analysis at the first prenatal visit. Your doctor specifies the frequency of testing. The reason is to ensure the expecting mother does not have UTI, kidney issues or liver problems during the pregnancy period.

Sometimes the doctor might ask you to provide multiple samples, especially when they want to monitor your health before or after the surgery.

If diagnosed with UTI, the doctor can ask you to take further urine routine tests to check whether the treatment is working or not. It can be once a month or once in two weeks.

Before the Test

The urine routine test doesn't generally require fasting. But if specific instructions given by your healthcare provider regarding food, drink, or medication restrictions pertaining to another blood test scheduled for the same time, kindly follow them. Before the test, you will be provided with a sample collection kit. Usually the first urine of the morning is collected as a sample. If the test doesn't require morning urine, you should drink water for a few hours before the test.

During the test

If you are doing the sample collection at home, here are the steps generally involved:

• Clean your genital area thoroughly before the test to avoid contamination of the sample.

• Wash your hands and unseal the collection kit.
• Start urinating, and once you are midstream,  collect the urine in the container. Avoiding the initial and final parts of the stream are advisable.
• Securely cap the container without touching the inside.
• Wash your hands again.
• Label the collection jar with your details if not pre-labeled.

After the Test

• Store the collection jar with the sample in a cool and dry place away from sunlight which can degrade the sample.
• Hand the sample over to the healthcare professional sent by your online test provider.

The results of the urine routine test provide comprehensive information about the person’s health. The following parameters are included in the test:

• The urine’s pH value measures the level of acid in urine.
• Urine concentration tells the amount of fluids the person consumes. Higher concentration shows less fluid consumption.
• It shows the amounts of sugar or glucose present.
• It checks for bilirubin in the urine. The presence of bilirubin indicates liver damage.
• Epithelial cells - these cells line up the ureter, bladder and urethra. 1-5 squamous epithelial cells per high power field or HPF are common in the urine. Any amount more than this indicates the presence of yeast or UTI.
• It checks for the presence of nitrites or leukocyte esterase. It indicates the onslaught of urinary tract infections.
• The test also tells about the presence of blood in the urine. If found, additional tests are required to identify the signs of infection or damage to the internal organs.

In addition to the above-given parameters, a urine routine test procedure also looks for white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), bacteria, yeast, casts and crystals in the urine. These elements are identified and detected with a microscopic examination of the urine.

Physical Examination

Biochemical Examination

Microscopic Examination

Tests for the presence of Pus cells, RBCs, Epithelial Cells, Casts, Crystals, Bacteria, Yeast and Parasites in the given urine sample.

The normal values and reference ranges of the test may vary from lab to lab. Please refer to the ranges mentioned in the report and consult a doctor to understand the interpretation of lab reports.

Considering the above ranges, any particulars present in the body above the stated range can lead to a kidney, liver or urinary tract issue.

Any amount of Nitrites and Leukocyte Esterase in urine is evidence of a urinary tract infection. Other constituents tested in the urine routine analysis direct the physicians towards the presence of other infections and conditions. More than normal quantity or concentration of following constituents is not ideal and can lead to other health conditions.

• Sugar (glucose) > Diabetes
• Protein > Kidney problem (further tests may be required to find out the issue)
• Acidity > UTI or kidney disorder
• Bilirubin > Damage to the liver
• Nitrites or leukocyte esterase > UTI
• Blood > Bladder stones, Kidney infection, Bladder cancer

The pricing for a Urine Routine test fluctuates based on the location and the laboratory. Typically, the cost of a urine routine test falls within the range of INR 339 to INR 599. Here's a detailed breakdown of the average charges for a urine routine test in various major cities across India: