One is a visual exam, which checks the color and clarity. If your pee has blood in it, it might be red or dark brown. Foam can be a sign of kidney disease, while cloudy urine may mean you have an infection.
A microscopic exam checks for things too small to be seen otherwise. Some of the things that shouldn’t be in your urine that a microscope can find include:
Red blood cells
White blood cells
Bacteria
Crystals (clumps of minerals – a possible sign of kidney stones)
The third part of urinalysis is the dipstick test, which uses a thin plastic strip treated with chemicals. It’s dipped into your urine, and the chemicals on the stick react and change color if levels are above normal. Things the dipstick test can check for include:
Acidity, or pH. If the acid is above normal, you could have kidney stones, a urinary tract infection (UTI) or another condition.
Protein. This can be a sign your kidneys are not working right. Kidneys filter waste products out of your blood, and your body needs protein.
Glucose. A high sugar content is a marker for diabetes.
White blood cells. These are a sign of infection.
Bilirubin
. If this waste product, which is normally eliminated by your liver, show up, it may mean your liver isn’t working properly.
Blood in your urine. Sometimes this is a sign of infections or certain illnesses.
