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Urine Tests |
Normal Result |
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Color |
Yellow |
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The color of urine is usually yellow, although it can vary from straw color to amber. Different disease states, conditions, and even diet can affect urinary color. |
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Clarity |
Clear |
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Urine is normally a clear. Urine can appear cloudy under normal circumstances or during pathology, such as when an infection is present. |
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Glucose |
Negative |
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Glucose is not normally present in urine. Glucose in the urine indicates either an excessively high level of glucose in the blood (diabetes) or a lowered glucose threshold (the kidneys excrete glucose into the urine at a relatively low blood glucose level. |
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Bilirubin |
Negative |
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Bilirubin is not normally present in urine. In some liver diseases, such as biliary obstruction or hepatitis, bilirubin may leak from the liver into the bloodstream and is excreted in the urine. The presence of bilirubin in the urine can indicate liver disease prior to the appearance of clinical symptoms. |
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Ketones |
Negative |
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Ketones are not normally present in urine. They are products of fat metabolism and can form when a person does not consume enough carbohydrates or when carbohydrates cannot be metabolized properly. Ketones in urine can be an early indicator of insufficient insulin in a patient with diabetes. They can also occur after fasting, after strenuous exercise, or during pregnancy. |
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Specific Gravity |
1.005-1.030 |
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Specific gravity measures the concentration of urine. First morning samples and those obtained from dehydrated patients would tend to be more concentrated and would have a higher specific gravity than samples from someone who drinks large amounts of water. |
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pH |
5.0-9.0 |
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pH measures the acidity/alkalinity of urine. Because the kidneys perform an important role in maintaining the acid-base balance in the body, conditions that affect this balance can affect urinary pH. Diet can also modify pH; one high in proteins will make the urine more acidic while a vegetarian or low carbohydrate diet will make the urine more alkaline. |
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Protein |
Negative |
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Protein is not normally detectable in urine. The presence of urine can indicate kidney disease, an over production of proteins (such as multiple myeloma), inflammation, or vaginal contamination |
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Urobilinogen |
0.2-1.0 EU/dL |
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Urobilinogen is normal present in urine in low concentrations. High results suggest possible liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis or conditions associated with red blood cell destruction (such as hemolytic anemia). Low or absent urobilinogen in a patient with a positive urine bilirubin test can suggest the presence of hepatic or biliary obstruction. |
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Nitrite |
Negative |
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Some bacteria can convert nitrate to nitrite in urine. A positive nitrite result indicates bacterial infection. However, because not all bacteria are capable of converting nitrate to nitrite, a negative nitrite result does not necessarily mean no infection is present. |
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Blood |
Negative |
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Red blood cells can be present in the urine of normal patients in very small amounts undetectable by this method. Once detectable, the amount of red blood cells present in urine is significant. Numerous diseases of the urinary tract, trauma, medications, and even strenuous exercise can cause blood in the urine. |
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Leukocytes |
Negative |
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Leukocyte esterase is an enzymes present in most white blood cells. When the number of white blood cells in urine becomes significant, this test will detect the presence of leukocyte esterase. A positive test for leukocytes indicates inflammation or infection in the urinary tract. |
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Microalbumin |
0-37 mg/L |
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Microalbumin measures tiny amounts of albumin that the body begins to release into the urine several years before significant kidney damage becomes apparent. Normally the kidneys don't allow albumin into the urine. If kidneys become damaged or diseased, such as in diabetes and hypertension, they lose their ability to filter proteins out of the urine. |
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Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio |
0-30 mg/g |
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Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio is the amount of albumin in the urine divided by the amount of creatinine in the urine. Creatinine is excreted into the urine on a consistent basis. Because the concentration of urine varies throughout the day, the creatinine measurement is used as a corrective factor for the albumin measurement.. |
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Urine Creatinine |
Females: 20-320 mg/dL |
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Urine creatinine is excreted into the urine on a consistent basis and is often used as a corrective factor for other urine measurements, such as albumin and Pyrilinks-D. |
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Urine Culture |
No Growth |
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A urine culture detects and identifies bacteria or yeast that may be causing a urinary tract infection. |
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