General urine analysis

Urinalysis (urine analysis) – basic information

General urine analysis is the basic prevention test which should be done regularly at least once every 2-3 years.

General urine analysis includes:

Physical features include:

• colour,
• transparency,
• reaction,
• specific gravity.

Chemical features include:

• protein,
• glucose,
• ketone bodies,
• bilirubin,
• urobilinogen,
• nitrites,
• blood (haemoglobin).

Urine sediment assessment, which is performed using the traditional method (light microscopy) or an analyser:

• leukocytes,
• erythrocytes,
• crystals,
• amorphous minerals,
• epithelia,
• casts,
• streaks of mucus,
• bacteria,
• mycelium hyphae,
• yeast,
• parasites.

PLEASE NOTE: urine sediment is assessed:

• in the event where pathological results are obtained upon testing the physiochemical properties of the urine sample,
• in pregnant women (upon prior notification to the medical staff while giving the urine sample for testing),
• in children up to the age of 12 years.

Abnormal results for the particular parameters may indicate diseases of the kidneys and the urinary system, the liver, the pancreas, and the heart, as well as systemic conditions, including inflammations.

Each abnormal result should be consulted with a physician.

General urine analysis – when should it be performed?

Apart from basic prevention, general urine analysis and consultation with a physician should be considered by individuals who:

• experience burning or pain upon urination,
• experience constant urination urgency or have difficulties in passing urine,
• have noticed that their urine manifests an alarming colour (e.g. red or dark brown), turbidity or other changes.

General urine analysis provides important information, which is used by a physician to prescribe relevant therapeutic procedures or other laboratory tests.

How to collect urine for analysis?

The urine for the test is collected by the patient into a disposable container. It is important to follow the instructions below in order to properly collect a sample and obtain reliable results.

Before urinalysis, patients must arrange for a disposable container (general urinalysis). The containers are available in the collection room or can be purchased in a pharmacy.
 

Urine collection in adults:

• The urine for general analysis is collected in the morning, after a night's rest, before you eat your breakfast and drink a cup of tea or coffee.
• Before a urine sample is collected, it is necessary to use warm water and soap to thoroughly wash your hands, and then the outlet of the urethra (in women: around the vulva, from the front towards the anus, while in men: the glans of the penis after retracting the prepuce). Use a disposable paper towel to wipe it dry. The application of strict hygiene measures is intended to get rid of bacteria from the body surface. Otherwise, the bacteria could falsify the test results once they get into the sample.
• It is necessary to collect the so-called middle-stream urine (MSU) – the initial small amount of urine must be voided into the toilet and the next middle stream into the container. The final stream of urine should also be voided into the toilet.
• The urine sample collected for general analysis should measure from 50 to 100 millilitres.
• The container with a freshly collected urine sample should be tightly closed and delivered to the collection room as soon as possible. Where prompt delivery is impossible, the container should be placed in cool place and delivered to the laboratory as soon as practicable, but not later than 4 hours after collection.

Urine collection in babies and small children:

• It is best to collect a urine sample in the morning, right after feeding.
• Remove the child’s nappy and thoroughly wash the outlet of the urethra (in girls: around the vulva, from the front towards the anus, while in boys: the glans of the penis after retracting the prepuce).
• Raise the child and massage his/her back muscles from the top down, along the spine.
• This activity should be performed in a warm room (the muscles will take less time to relax and your child will avoid a cold).
• When the child starts to pass urine, the middle stream should be collected – like in the case of adults – into a suitable container.
• It is also possible to stick a special sac for urine collection. Such sacs can be purchased in a pharmacy – there are different types for girls and boys.

• Test results are available within one working day.
• The possibility of collecting the test results in a medical facility or its partner facility, as indicated during the purchase – ask for details at the reception desk or in the blood collection point.
• The particular medical facilities make it possible for the test results to be accessed online. For this to be possible, it is necessary to visit the reception desk/information point of the chosen facility in order to confirm such a functionality and receive information on how to gain online access to the test results.