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:

1. 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.

1. To detect disorders: There are a few conditions when doctors prescribe this test. The urine routine test is used for the diagnosis of:

1. UTI
2. Kidney disorders
3. Presence of blood in the urine

1. 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. They are especially common in women during the 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.

Other Names for Urine Routine Test

• Urine Test
• Urine routine analysis
• UA
• Urinalysis
• RUA
• Urine routine and microscopy

 What does the urine routine test detect/measure and who is this prescribed for?

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

Test Preparation

Urine routine test sample collection is called the clean-catch method. Men must clean the tip of the penis and women must clean the surface around the urethra and discard initial drops of urine before sample collection (collect midstream urine).

The purpose is to get a pure and unadulterated urine sample. Other than this, you don’t need to fast or take some special steps.

Yes, in some cases, the doctors might ask you to take the urine sample at home when you urinate after waking up. This is because the morning urine sample is more concentrated and bereft of any dietary influences. This helps get better and more accurate results.

Test inclusions: What parameters are included?

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

• 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.
• The urine’s pH value measures the level of acid in the urine.

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.

Urinary Tract Infections, Diabetes

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