Urine test (urinalysis): various types and functions

There are a variety of test options that can be done to examine the organs in your body. The type of examination that is often used to determine health conditions is a urine test which is important for your urological system (urination).

Come on, get to know the function of urine testing and what are the types of urine testing below!

What is a urine test?

A urine test (urinalysis) is a method of examination that uses urine to detect any disturbances in the body. A urine sample test is usually performed to diagnose diseases related to the urinary tract.

For example, urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes are checked through this test. You may also have this examination while you are in the hospital, before surgery, or when you are pregnant.

Urinalysis generally checks the color, concentration, composition, and smell of urine. A urinalysis result that shows an abnormality often requires further examination to reveal the cause.

Urine test function

The process of forming urine does not just happen, but involves the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. These organs are part of the urinary tract that play an important role in filtering waste and regulating fluid and electrolyte balance.

If one or more of these components is damaged, it will certainly affect urine. Be it volume, color, texture, to the content in it.

Therefore, a urine test is needed to assess whether there are changes in urine associated with certain diseases. Here are some of the functions of the urine test procedure.

• Part of a routine health check.
• Diagnose health problems if you experience certain symptoms.
• Monitor health conditions if you have been diagnosed with a disease.
• Assess kidney function before surgery.
• Monitor the development of abnormal pregnancies, such as gestational diabetes.

What needs to be prepared?

If you are only going to have a urinalysis procedure, you are usually allowed to eat and drink before the urine test is done. If you are doing other tests at the same time, it may be necessary to fast for a period of time.

You don't need to worry because the doctor will give you clear instructions on what to prepare before the examination.

The presence of drugs and supplements, both prescription and non-prescription, affects the test results. Therefore, consult your doctor about medications, vitamins, or supplements that you are taking before a urine test.

How is the urine test done?

Samples for urine tests are usually done depending on your condition, whether it's done at home or in the doctor's office.

In general, the doctor will provide a container for a urine sample and you will be asked to collect a sample in the morning and collect a central stream of urine. You can start taking a urine sample with the following steps.

• Pee a little in the toilet (first shower).
• Place the container near the urine stream.
• Collect about 30-59 ml of urine into the container at the second stream.
• Finish urinating.
• Give a urine sample according to doctor's instructions.

A urine sample will usually be effective in testing if it is taken to the hospital within 60 minutes of collection. If this is not possible, you should put the sample in the refrigerator or add a preservative as directed by your doctor.

Types of urine tests

During the urinalysis, your urine sample that has been placed in the container will be examined in the following ways:

Visual inspection

During the visual urine test, laboratory personnel will observe the appearance of urine directly. This includes several things, from the level of clarity, smell, to urine color.

One of the signs that you have a certain disease that is shown by visual urine is foamy and bad-smelling urine.

Microscopic examination

With the aid of a microscope, this type of urine test is not done by everyone. Microscopic examination will usually be performed when the results show anything unusual on the visual exam or on the dipstick.

This test will analyze the urine sediment, which is urine whose chemical substances have been separated by concentrating several compounds at the bottom of the tube. The fluid on top of the tube will then be removed and any remaining urine droplets will be examined under a microscope.

Here are some compounds that are considered important in microscopic examination.

• White blood cells (leukocytes) in the urine to indicate an infection.
• Red blood cells (erythrocytes), which are a sign of kidney disease and blood disorders.
• Bacteria or yeast as a sign of infection.
• Crystals, which represent kidney stones.
• Epithelium in the urine is a lot of signs of tumors, infections and kidney disease.

Dipstick test

The dipstick test is a urine test that uses a thin plastic stick and is inserted into your urine sample. Plastic sticks will usually change color if there is an excessive amount of certain substances in the urine.

This method is usually used to detect several things, such as:

Acidity (pH)

A urine pH level test is a test used to measure the acidity and alkalinity of your urine. This test is a simple and painless procedure.

Some diseases, diet, and medications will affect your urine acid or alkaline levels, such as:

• Acetazolamide,
• Ammonium chloride,
• Methenamine mandelate,
• Potassium citrate,
• Sodium bicarbonate, and
• Thiazide diuretics.

Abnormal acidity or alkaline levels usually indicate kidney disease or urinary tract problems.

The concentration or thickness of urine

This test usually only shows how concentrated your urine is. The thicker the urine, meaning the less fluid the body gets from drinking.

Meanwhile, when you drink large amounts of water for a short period of time or get a fluid infusion, your urine may look like plain water.

Apart from these two components, there are several other compounds that are also taken into account during the dipstick test.

• Protein, urine containing protein is a sign there is kidney problems.
• Sugar which indicates you have diabetes, but further tests are needed.
• Bilirubin, which the blood should carry to supply the liver.
• Blood, which is commonly a symptom of kidney and bladder pain.

Urine tests can be done alone or in combination with other tests. The doctor will determine which examinations are suitable for your needs and condition.

Other types of urine tests

Urine test (urinalysis) is not only done to detect urological diseases, but other health problems. In addition to the three stages of urinalysis that have been mentioned, there is another urine examination that turns out to be quite important, namely the catecholamine urine test.

Catecholamine urine examination is a procedure performed to measure the amount of several hormones in the urine, namely:

• epinephrine,
• norepinephrine,
• metanephrine, and
• dopamine.

These catecholamines are made of a network of nerves, brain and adrenal glands. This hormone also helps the body respond to stress or fear and prepares the body for a reaction fight or flight.

Catecholamines can also increase your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and your alertness. In addition, this hormone also decreases the amount of blood to the skin and intestines, and increases blood flow to other important organs.

This catecholamine urine test is needed to see the symptoms of pheochromocytoma, which is a type of tumor that grows on the adrenal glands. Most cases indicate that this tumor is benign, aka not cancer.

However, pheochromocytoma still needs to be removed because it can interfere with normal adrenal function.

Apart from detecting the presence of tumors, this examination is also recommended for children who are suspected of having neuroblastoma. The reason is, this disease often starts in the adrenal glands, so that it can increase the number of catecholamines.

The procedure for a urine test is similar to a typical urinalysis. However, your doctor may advise you not to eat certain foods before doing the test.

Thus, the results of the urine test may not be disturbed by the compounds from the food you consume.

How to read urine test results

Basically, the urine test results will be explained in detail by your doctor. Therefore, you don't need to worry because the doctor will tell you in a language that is easy to understand.

You see, the results of the urine test actually have many interpretations. The unusual finding is a warning that something is wrong and needs further diagnosis.

For example, a urine pH test will show the acid-base levels in your urine. The mean urine pH was 6.0. However, that number can also change between 4.5-8.0.

If your urine pH is below 5.0, it means the urine is acidic. Meanwhile, a result higher than 8.0 indicates alkaline properties. If the number is low, you may be at risk for kidney stones.

Therefore, the doctor may need to carry out further tests to confirm your health condition.