A urinalysis is a set of tests on your pee (urine). You provide a urine sample, either in a cup or with a catheter. Then your provider sends it to a lab for a visual exam, dipstick test and microscopic exam. You might need a urinalysis as part of a routine screening or if you have symptoms of an infection, diabetes, or kidney or liver issues.
A urinalysis is a set of tests that looks at the appearance of your pee (urine) and checks for blood cells, proteins and other substances in it. You provider might use it as a routine screening test or to look for signs of infection, kidney or liver disease, diabetes or other health conditions.
A lot of people know a urinalysis as simply “the test where you pee in a cup.” And usually, that’s all you need to do for your part. Then your provider sends your sample to a lab, where they note its appearance, test it for certain substances (urine dipstick) and look at it under a microscope. Often, providers can do a simple urine dipstick test in their office and get the results right away.
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A urinalysis can include a description of the sample’s appearance (visual exam), a dipstick test and microscopic exam. Your provider won’t necessarily order all the tests listed. Which tests the lab performs depend on what your provider is looking for.
A healthcare professional looks at the color, clarity and anything else they see with the naked eye in a visual exam. The description might include:
Dipsticks are plastic strips with patches of chemicals that change color when they touch certain substances. Dipstick urinalysis tests might include:
Some substances in your pee can only be seen with a microscope. A microscopic exam can look for:
Your provider may order a urinalysis:
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Usually, you don’t have to do anything to prepare for a urinalysis. You may need to drink an extra glass of water if you don’t feel like you’ll be able to pee for the test. But drinking too much extra water can give inaccurate results.
Let your provider know:
In certain circumstances, your provider might ask you to:
In most cases, you’ll provide a pee sample at your healthcare provider’s office or at a laboratory using the “clean catch” method. You or your healthcare provider can also collect a urine sample using a catheter (thin tube).
For the clean catch method, your provider will give you a specimen cup, sterile wipes and specific instructions for collecting your urine sample. Your provider will tell you what to do with your sample after you’ve collected it. It’s important to wash your hands with soap and water before you collect the sample.
If you have labia, collect your pee with the following steps:
If you have a penis, collect your pee with the following steps:
A healthcare provider can also collect a urine sample with a catheter. They’ll clean the area around the opening of your urethra with a germ-killing (antiseptic) solution and insert a catheter into your urethra. Your pee will drain into a sterile container and your provider will remove the catheter.
Your healthcare provider will send your sample to a lab for the urinalysis. In some cases, your provider may examine the sample and run dipstick tests on it immediately in their office.
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In general, you’ll see on your urinalysis results:
Depending on which tests your provider ordered, you may see a lot of results or just a few. The results may appear as a list or a table.
Normal ranges for values on your urinalysis can vary some, but in general, they include:
Test | Normal value |
---|---|
Color | Yellow |
Clarity | Clear or cloudy |
Bilirubin | Negative |
Glucose | Negative or trace |
Hemoglobin/blood | Negative or trace |
Ketones | Negative, none or trace |
Protein | Negative or trace |
Leukocyte esterase | Negative or trace |
Nitrite | Negative |
Urine pH | 5.0 - 8.0 |
Urine specific gravity | 1.005 - 1.030 |
Bacteria | None or negative |
Casts | 0/LPF (low powered field) |
Urine RBC | 0-3/HPF (high powered field) |
Urine WBC | 0-5/HPF |
Yeast | None or negative |
Test | |
Color | |
Normal value | |
Yellow | |
Clarity | |
Normal value | |
Clear or cloudy | |
Bilirubin | |
Normal value | |
Negative | |
Glucose | |
Normal value | |
Negative or trace | |
Hemoglobin/blood | |
Normal value | |
Negative or trace | |
Ketones | |
Normal value | |
Negative, none or trace | |
Protein | |
Normal value | |
Negative or trace | |
Leukocyte esterase | |
Normal value | |
Negative or trace | |
Nitrite | |
Normal value | |
Negative | |
Urine pH | |
Normal value | |
5.0 - 8.0 | |
Urine specific gravity | |
Normal value | |
1.005 - 1.030 | |
Bacteria | |
Normal value | |
None or negative | |
Casts | |
Normal value | |
0/LPF (low powered field) | |
Urine RBC | |
Normal value | |
0-3/HPF (high powered field) | |
Urine WBC | |
Normal value | |
0-5/HPF | |
Yeast | |
Normal value | |
None or negative |
Results that are positive or out of the typical range on a urinalysis might mean you have a medical issue. Providers rarely use urinalysis tests alone to diagnose conditions. They may recommend further testing if you have an abnormal result.
In most cases, it’ll take one to two business days to get your urinalysis results back. Your provider will share them with you, or they might appear in your electronic health record.
If one of your urinalysis test results is abnormal, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a medical condition. Your provider can let you know if it indicates an issue or if you need more testing. They’ll consider your medical history, symptoms and current medications.
Factors that can affect or interfere with urinalysis results include:
Contact your healthcare provider if you notice any changes in your urine — like a persistent change in color, odor or consistency — or if you have any questions about the results of your urinalysis.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Peeing into a cup can be awkward and even embarrassing. But a urinalysis is a noninvasive way for your provider to get a lot of information about your health. It can help them quickly make a diagnosis or decide whether you need more tests. Don’t hesitate to ask them if you have any questions about why you need a urinalysis or what the results mean.
Last reviewed on 07/03/2024.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy