urinalysis
19 articles in this field-note collection.
Bacteria in urine: what few, moderate and many mean
Bacteria on a urinalysis often mean a contaminated sample or harmless bacteriuria. Here's how it's graded, how it relates to a culture, and when it matters.
Urine bilirubin test: what negative and positive mean
Bilirubin in urine points to the liver or bile ducts. What normal is, the common causes of a positive, how to read it with other tests, and when it's urgent.
Blood in urine test: what a positive result means
A positive urine blood test can mean red cells, free hemoglobin or muscle pigment. What's normal, common causes, the neighbors to check, and when it's urgent.
Urine casts: what hyaline, granular and red cell casts mean
Urine casts are protein plugs molded in the kidney's tubules. A few hyaline casts are usually harmless. Here's what the other types point to.
Urine color and appearance: what your urinalysis means
What yellow, amber, red, brown or cloudy urine means on a urinalysis, why hydration drives most color change, and which colors need prompt care.
Urine creatinine test: normal levels and what they mean
Urine creatinine shows how dilute a sample is, whether a 24-hour collection is complete, and anchors urine ratios. What's normal and why it runs low or high.
Crystals in urine: calcium oxalate, amorphous and more
Most urine crystals are harmless and form after the sample cools. What calcium oxalate and amorphous crystals mean, which types matter, and when to act.
Epithelial cells in urine: what squamous and renal mean
Squamous cells in urine usually mean skin cells got into the sample. Here's what's normal, when renal tubular cells matter, and when to get care.
Urine glucose test: what negative, trace and positive mean
Glucose in urine usually means blood sugar passed your kidneys' limit. What a normal result is, the common causes of a positive, and when it's urgent.
Urine ketones test: what trace, small or large means
Urine ketones show your body burning fat. Here's what negative, trace, small and large mean, why strips miss mild ketosis, and when ketones are urgent.
Urine leukocyte esterase: what a positive result means
Leukocyte esterase flags white blood cells in your urine. Here's what a positive means, the usual causes, how to read it with nitrite, and when to get care.
Urine nitrite test: what positive and negative mean
Nitrite on a urinalysis points to bacteria in the bladder. What a positive result means, why a negative one can miss an infection, and when it's urgent.
Urine pH test: normal range, what low or high means
Urine pH shows how much acid your kidneys are clearing. What's normal, the optimal band, why urine runs acidic or alkaline, and when it matters.
Urine protein test: what trace, 1+ and 2+ mean
Protein on a urinalysis is graded negative to 4+. What each grade means, the common temporary causes, when it points to kidney disease, and when it's urgent.
Red blood cells in urine: what your RBC/hpf count means
Urine red cells are counted per high-power field under a microscope. What's normal, what misshapen cells and casts mean, and the AUA/SUFU workup.
Urine specific gravity: normal range, high and low causes
Urine specific gravity shows how concentrated your urine is. Here's the normal range, what high and low results usually mean, and when to get care.
Urobilinogen in urine: normal levels, high and low causes
Urine urobilinogen tracks bilirubin's trip from liver to gut and back. Here's the normal 0.2–1.0 range, what high or low means, and when it's urgent.
White blood cells in urine: normal range and causes
White blood cells in urine usually signal infection or inflammation. Here's the normal count, the common causes, what to read beside it, and when it's urgent.
Yeast in urine: contamination, candiduria and next steps
Yeast on a urinalysis can be vaginal yeast in the sample or harmless colonization. Here's who gets true candiduria, how it's confirmed and when it's treated.