Short answer: A urinalysis checks a urine sample in up to three ways: appearance (colour, clarity), a dipstick whose pads change colour for substances such as protein, glucose, blood, leukocytes and nitrites, and sometimes microscopy, which counts cells, crystals and casts. It is used to screen for urinary infections, kidney problems and diabetes, among others.
At a glance
| Appearance | Colour and clarity |
|---|---|
| Dipstick | Protein, glucose, blood, leukocytes, nitrites, ketones, pH, specific gravity |
| Microscopy | Cells, crystals, casts, bacteria |
| LOINC | 24356-8 (urinalysis panel) |
| Sample | Mid-stream, first morning urine where asked, in a clean container |
| Keep | The lines that were abnormal, with the date and any symptoms |
What the test measures
The dipstick gives quick, semi-quantitative results: negative, trace, or 1+ to 3+ (sometimes an approximate concentration). The main pads are:
- Specific gravity: how concentrated the urine is.
- pH: acidity.
- Protein: often reflects albumin.
- Glucose and ketones.
- Blood (haemoglobin): red cells or haemoglobin.
- Leukocyte esterase and nitrites: signs often seen with a urinary infection.
A positive dipstick is often confirmed by microscopy or a urine culture.
When it is ordered
Common reasons, which your doctor adapts to you:
- as part of a routine check or before surgery;
- when urinary symptoms (burning, frequency, pain) need checking;
- to follow diabetes, kidney conditions or pregnancy.
How the result is written on the report
| Result on the report | LOINC code | Usual unit | Also seen as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific gravity (test strip) | 5811-5 | — | e.g. 1.005–1.030 |
| pH (test strip) | 5803-2 | pH | — |
| Protein (test strip) | 5804-0 | mg/dL | negative / trace / 1+–3+ |
| Blood/haemoglobin (test strip) | 5794-3 | presence | negative / trace / 1+–3+ |
| Leukocyte esterase (test strip) | 5799-2 | presence | negative / trace / 1+–3+ |
Dipstick results are categories rather than exact numbers, and the scale (trace, 1+, 2+…) differs a little between brands. For an exact measure of protein loss, doctors use the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio instead.
Reading your report
The way the sample is collected matters: a midstream 'clean catch' sample avoids contamination; first-morning urine is more concentrated. Menstruation, intense exercise and some foods or medicines can colour urine or give positive pads. A single positive result is usually repeated or confirmed before conclusions are drawn.
Keeping the results in your record
Scan or photograph the report in Anpheros Daily: each value is read with its unit and the laboratory's reference range, you check it, and it is stored with its LOINC code as an HL7 FHIR Observation, a format used by many hospitals and national health systems. Results from different laboratories line up on one chart over time, and the lab unit converter helps when two reports use different units. Our guide on how to read lab results explains reference ranges and flags in general; the lab results guide for a new doctor shows how to share them.
What this page does not do
It explains what the test is and how the result is written. It does not interpret your result, diagnose or recommend treatment: the meaning of a value depends on your history, your other results and how the sample was taken, and that is your doctor's job.
Related pages
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What does "trace" mean on a urine test?
A very small amount, at the lower limit of what the dipstick detects. It is often repeated or confirmed by another test.
Do nitrites and leukocytes mean an infection?
They are signs often seen with a urinary infection, but a doctor confirms it with symptoms and sometimes a urine culture.
How should I collect a urine sample?
Usually midstream: start urinating, then collect the middle part in the container. Follow the instructions you were given.
Is a urine dipstick the same as a urine culture?
No. The dipstick is a quick chemical screen; a culture grows bacteria to identify them and is done in a lab over a day or two.
Try it in Anpheros Daily
Photograph your lab report and Anpheros Daily lines up each value with its reference range, so you can compare reports from different laboratories.
How it works in the app →
Anpheros builds a medical record that the patient controls and can share with any clinic, on an HL7 FHIR R4 platform, based in the EU. These guides help you understand and organise your health; they do not replace your doctor.
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