Urinalysis Analysis

Learn more about the test

You're the Doctor: Urinalysis

In this interactive resource, you can learn a little more about urinalysis and even give it a go! Click one of the buttons below to get started...

Try making a diagnosis

Check the NICE guidelines

Examining urine involves checking: Colour: dark urine can occur if the patient is dehydrated, if it contains blood, if patient is jaundiced, contains bile pigments or coloured by foods or medications Turbidity: urine is cloudy when infected due to the presence of WBCs Odour: offensive in infection, sweet when contains ketones Dipstix testing: this test reveals the presence of substances in the urine. If you'd like a reminder of how to perform the test, you can explore the Clinical Skills eBook.

Urine Testing

Hover over each test strip to learn more!

Leukocytes These are not found in normal urine, the presence of White Blood Cells (WBCs) in urine is usually due to infection.

Nitrites Nitrites are not found in normal urine. They're formed when bacteria cause the breakdown of urinary nitrates to nitrites, which is why they're a good indicator of infection.

Urobilinogen Small amounts are present in normal urine, but high amounts can indicate liver or haemolytic disease.

Protein Urinalysis is suitable for screening purposes only as it can indicate renal disease or abnormal protein production, e.g. multiple myeloma. If present, further testing is required.

Blood Blood in the urine can be caused by a UTI, disease of the renal tract (e.g. renal stones or malignancy), haematological disease, and can also be exacerbated by anticoagulant medication.

Specific Gravity This test compares the density of urine to water. Low specific gravity indicates dilute urine (e.g. such as in diabetes insipidus), with high specific gravity caused by conditions such as dehydration or glycosuria.

pH Low pH can indicate acidosis (e.g. diabetic ketoacidosis or sepsis). High pH can indicate UTI or conditions that cause alkalosis (e.g. vomiting).

Ketones If you find ketones present on urinalysis in a patient with diabetes you must consider the possibility of DKA. Ketones, in the absence of glucose, can also be present in starvation, or no-carbohydrate diets e.g. anorexia, alcoholism.

Bilirubin Not found in normal urine, usually indicates liver disease or bile duct obstruction.

Glucose Glucose should not normally be present in the urine and if found should prompt further assessment for diabetes.

Morgan presents with a three-day history of increased urinary frequency and dysuria (pain associated with urination).They have no temperature, vomiting or haematuria (blood in their urine). They don't have any loin pain and otherwise feel well.You decide urinalysis is required to investigate their symptoms...

Do the test

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Click-and-drag the dipstick to check your findings against the guide

How to play

Click this button for the NICE guidelines

Click this button to make your diagnosis

Click through these buttons to see the dipstick results at each time interval

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