Understanding Your Urine Test Results: What Each Marker Means
Urine tests are done to check the nature and concentration of the chemical substances present in the given sample. This analysis helps look into the overall health of the patient, detection of possible infections or diseases, as well as to know how well the patient is responding to a certain medication. However, despite being an easy-to-conduct procedure, patients often find it difficult to interpret the urine test results.
Urine test results can be interpreted by comparing them with standard ranges
In this article, we will dive into what your urine test results mean and how to interpret them to understand your health state in a better way. In addition, some of the well-known urinary test product brands have also been linked for the reader’s convenience.
What is a Urine Test?
A urine test, or as it is called, urinalysis, is the well-known test in which you are asked to ‘pee in a cup’. This collected urine sample is then sent to the laboratory for analysis, which includes visual inspection, microscopic examination, and chemical evaluation.
This way, the parameters checked by the urine test indicate the internal condition of the patient’s body. Similarly, information regarding the effectiveness of a therapeutic regimen can also be obtained.
Understanding the Urine Test Results
Normal Urine Test Results
When it comes to taking a urine test, the next step is to interpret the results to find out information regarding your health. In this regard, medical experts have set normal ranges for each urinary parameter. If your urinary test results comply with all the normal ranges, there is nothing to worry about. The following table lists these normal values for all the parameters:
| Substances Analyzed | Normal Ranges |
| Urinary pH | 4.5 to 8 (average is 6) |
| Color | Yellow (pale to dark or deep amber) |
| Odor | Aromatic |
| Specific gravity | 1.005 to 1.03 (in adults),
1.001 to 1.02 (in newborns) |
| Protein | Less than 100 mg per 24 hours i.e. 0 to 8 mg/dL, 50 to 80 mg/24 hours (at rest), less than 250 mg/24 hours (exercise) |
| Sodium | Varies |
| Uric acid | 250 to 750 mg per 24 hours |
| Osmolarity | 38 to 1,400 milliosmoles (mOsm) per kilogram (kg) of water |
| Glucose | Fresh specimen: Negative,
24-h specimen: 50 to 300 mg/day or 0.3 to 1.7 mmol/day |
| Ketone bodies | Usually not found in urine/Negative |
| Nitrite | Usually not found in urine/Negative |
| Leukocyte esterase | Usually not found in urine/Negative |
| Bilirubin | Usually not found in urine/Negative |
| Urobilinogen | Usually found in small amount i.e. 0.2 to 1 mg/dL |
| Red blood cells/erythrocytes | Usually not found in urine/Negative |
| White blood cells/leukocytes | Usually not found in urine or in less amount i.e. 0 to 4 per hpf* |
| Squamous epithelial cells | Less than or equal to 15 to 20 cells/hpf* |
| Casts | None |
| Crystals | Negative |
| Bacteria | None |
| Yeast | None |
*hpf = high-power field
Abnormal Urine Test Results
In situations when the urinary test results are not in line with the estimated normal ranges, it is an indication of certain abnormalities in the body. Some of these problems associated with abnormal or out-of-range urinary test results have been listed in the given table:
| Urine Test Results | Interpretation |
| Dark colored urine | Liver disease, bleeding |
| Cloudy urine | Indicates the presence of RBCs, pus cells, or bacteria |
| Fruity odor | Diabetes ketosis |
| Foul odor | Infection |
| High specific gravity | Concentrated urine (with too little water) |
| Low specific gravity | Dilute urine (with too much water) |
| Protein | Presence may indicate kidney disease |
| Albumin | Presence may indicate kidney disease |
| Ketones | Presence may indicate diabetes |
| Glucose | May indicate diabetes, pregnancy, or gestational diabetes when greater than 1,000 mg per dL |
| Bilirubin | Presence may indicate bleeding disorders or liver disease |
| Amylase | Increase over 24 hours may indicate pancreatic disease |
Urine test results reflect the internal state of a patient’s body
Let us go into detail:
Urine Color, Odor, and Turbidity
While interpreting the urine test results, the first thing noticed is the color and smell of the sample. Although a change in color do indicate certain diseases such as liver issues, it can be associated with the patient’s dietary patterns as well as medication intake. Moreover, some disease states are also responsible for these color modifications. For instance:
| Associated Color | Color-Imparting Foods | Color-Imparting Medication | Medical Conditions |
| Red | Beetroot, blackberries, rhubarb | Propofol, chlorpromazine, thioridazine | UTIs, kidney diseases |
| Orange | Carrot, vitamin C | Rifampin, sulfasalazine, phenazopyridine | Dehydration, hemolysis, kidney or liver disease |
| Green | Asparagus | Vitamin B, indomethacin, propofol, amitriptyline | UTIs, familial benign hypercalcemia |
| Blue | – | Methylene blue, indomethacin, amitriptyline | Tryptophan malabsorption |
| Purple | – | – | Bacteriuria in patients with urinary catheters |
| Brown | Fava beans, rhubarb, aloe | Levodopa, chloroquine, metronidazole | Hepatobiliary disease, Gilbert’s syndrome |
| Black | – | – | Alkaptonuria, malignant melanoma |
| White | – | Propofol | Pyuria, chyluria |
As for the detection of turbidity upon urine test results, further tests should be done for ruling out or confirming the infections, as well as metabolic disorders.
Urinary pH
In case of an altered pH detected in urine test results, issues like kidney stones, infections, as well as renal tubular acidosis (RTA) are possible risk factors. In addition, urinary pH also helps in the differentiation of one type of stone from the other.
This is because the alkaline pH in urine test results indicates stones associated with calcium oxalate/calcium phosphate, or magnesium-ammonium phosphate. However, an acidic pH is caused due to uric acid and cystine calculi or stones.
Specific Gravity
When it comes to specific gravity in urine test results, a lower value reflects an impaired urinary concentration ability that often happens due to acute tubular necrosis, sickle cell nephropathy, or diabetes insipidus. However, specific gravity increases in the case of the presence of proteins or ketoacids.
Glucose
If the urine test results indicate the presence of glucose in the sample, the condition is termed as glucosuria. It is common during pregnancy or among patients with diabetes mellitus. Moreover, glucose presence also reflects a decreased kidney threshold concentration.
Ketones
Under normal circumstances, ketone bodies are not present in urine. However, if your urine test results indicate their presence, it might reflect conditions like pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, and diabetic ketoacidosis. Additionally, ketones can also be released in the urine after severe exercise, starvation, or vomiting.
Nitrites
Like ketones, nitrites should also be negative in normal urine test results. However, in case of their detection, there is a risk of infection in the body as bacteria like Escherichia coli, Proteus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella produce these chemical agents. Therefore, further testing is required to confirm the type of infection.
Bilirubin and Urobilinogen
The presence of bilirubin and urobilinogen in the urine sample is associated with obstructive hepatobiliary conditions, hepatitis, jaundice, as well as hemolysis, constipation, liver parenchymal diseases, and intestinal bacterial overgrowth. A lower level of urobilinogen has been observed in severe cholestasis as well as obstructive biliary disease.
White Blood Cells
An enzyme present in WBCs called leukocyte esterase can be detected in the urine sample by a dipstick test. In case of a positive leukocyte esterase test, pyuria is indicated which is further associated with urinary tract infections.
A single dipstick test can check multiple urinary parameters at the same time
Urine Test Products at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications
A urine test is a method of checking a urine sample collected from a patient, either by examining it visually or under a microscope. Moreover, a dipstick test can also be done to get information about certain urinary parameters that indicate the presence or extent of some disease states.
When it comes to learning about the interpretation of the urine test results, it is also essential to look into some of the products that many brands manufacture. Some of these well-known brands are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below, along with their features and purchase links:
McKesson Medsurg 121-10SG Urine Test Strip, 10SG F/121-120ANALYZ (VL/1)
MCKESSON MEDSURG 121-10SG Urine Test Strips – 100 Strips/Box
US$62.22
Product Details
McKesson Medsurg 121-10SG urine test strips are the products that can estimate 10 different urinary parameters at the same time. These include pH, blood, leukocytes, glucose, protein, and nitrite. In addition, the detection and quantification of ketones, bilirubin, as well as urobilinogen is also possible. Moreover, the option to check the value of the specific gravity of urine is also present.
When it comes to observing and interpreting the urine test results, these McKesson Medsurg 121-10SG urine test strips are easy to read by matching them with the color chart provided with the product. Furthermore, these urine test strips are CLIA-waived products and, therefore, frequently used in clinical labs, physician’s offices, and point-of-care settings.
As for their shelf-life, these McKesson Medsurg 121-10SG urine test strips can be used for up to 24 months if stored in a tightly capped storage jar and kept at room temperature. The individually sealed vials increase the stability of the product while maximizing its accuracy.
Overall, these McKesson Medsurg 121-10SG urine test strips are easy to use and are ideal for screening several issues, including urinary tract infections, metabolic disorders, as well as kidney-related diseases.
Siemens Medical 10336425 Urine Test Strips, Multistix 10SG 2161 (100/VL=EA)
SIEMENS MEDICAL 10336425 URINE TEST STRIP, MULTISTIX 10SG 2161 (100/VL=EA)
Product Details
Siemens Medical 10336425 urine test strips are one of the best products in the market. These are known to produce urine test results within 1 to 2 minutes, that makes them quick as well as reliable in performance.
Moreover, when it comes to their applications, these Siemens Medical 10336425 urine test strips can be employed for the management of diabetes in addition to estimating the renal parameters with microalbumin or albumin-to-creatinine ratio.
Furthermore, these Siemens Medical 10336425 urine test strips also provide the advantage of screening out the non-infected urine samples so that only the positive ones get further analysis in the laboratory.
Roche Diagnostic 3260763160 Urine Test Strip, CHEMSTRIP 10 MD (100/VL)
ROCHE DIAGNOSTIC 3260763160 URINE TEST STRIP, CHEMSTRIP 10 MD (100/VL)
Product Details
Roche Diagnostic 3260763160 urine test strips are specially designed products to diagnose and evaluate metabolic disorders. In addition, these are also ideal for estimating key urine parameters that could reflect renal and liver conditions.
Furthermore, these Roche Diagnostic 3260763160 urine test strips are multiparameter visual reagent strips that can resist the interference caused by vitamin C in the urine sample. Therefore, patients who are on vitamin C therapy can use them without having to discontinue the treatment.
Moreover, these Roche Diagnostic 3260763160 urine test strips can show urine test results within 1 to 2 minutes. Additionally, all the reagents show results simultaneously, which can be read at once.
*Note: The prices of these items mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.
Urine analysis is a non-invasive and quick procedure
The products mentioned in this article while learning about the urine test results interpretation, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of urinalysis-related products.
Conclusion
A urine test is done to check the internal conditions of the body without performing an invasive procedure. The patient is asked to give a urine sample in a container, which is then evaluated based on its visual appearance, microscopic properties, as well as chemical characteristics.
However, when it comes to interpreting the urine test results, it is essential to compare them with the reference values set by the respective health authorities. This way, not only the parameters exceeding or falling below the normal range can be highlighted, but an estimation can also be made regarding the reason behind these changes.
Considering their importance, urine test strips should be kept in healthcare facilities as well as in home settings to use whenever necessary. For purchasing different types of urine test products, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
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