Urinalysis Codes and Their Interpretations

Urinalysis results are typically presented in the form of codes, each carrying a different meaning. It is essential to understand these codes and their implications to gain clearer insight into the body's health status, which we will clarify in the following article.

Urinalysis Codes and Their Interpretations

Urinalysis is a simple test conducted on a small urine sample to detect various health problems and disorders, such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, or early detection of serious diseases like kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes.

However, it's important to note that urinalysis alone does not provide a specific diagnosis, and doctors often request additional tests to pinpoint the exact issue if the urinalysis results are abnormal.

Urinalysis is typically divided into three sections: visual or physical examination, chemical examination, and microscopic examination. Each analysis has its own specific codes. In the following paragraphs, we'll explain the codes of urinalysis and their meanings, along with the normal ranges to help you understand your condition clearly.

Visual Examination Codes and their Meanings

In the visual examination, the technician examines the color and appearance of the urine sample visually. Here are the possible results and their implications:

• Urine Appearance

Usually, urine appearance is typically expressed using the following symbols:

• Clear: Indicates normal, clear urine.
• Foamy: Indicates the presence of protein in the urine.
• Cloudy or Turbid: Indicates a problem such as infection, dehydration, kidney stones, diabetes, or sexually transmitted diseases. In such cases, urine may also have an unusual odor. Sometimes, cloudy urine may not indicate a health problem and could be due to sperm or dead skin cells.

• Urine Color

Normally, urine should be Light yellow, but it can range from pale yellow or colorless to dark or deep amber depending on its concentration (related to fluid intake).

Urine color can be affected by medications, supplements, or foods like beets. However, red or brown urine may indicate blood in the urine or urinary tract damage.

Chemical Examination Codes and their Meanings

Chemical examination, often done with a dipstick test, involves placing a thin plastic strip containing chemicals into a urine sample. The color of these pads changes if certain chemicals are present or if their levels are higher than normal. Here are the codes and their meanings:

• Acidity (pH): Indicates the amount of acid in the urine, with a normal range between 4.5 - 8. High acidity may indicate kidney problems or urinary tract infections, while low acidity may indicate ketoacidosis associated with diabetes or dehydration.
• Protein: Normally, protein levels in urine are low (less than or equal to 150 milligrams per deciliter). A significant increase may indicate kidney problems, heart failure, or dehydration.
• Glucose: Normally, there should be no glucose in the urine or levels should be less than or equal to 130 milligrams per deciliter. Elevated levels require further blood sugar monitoring tests, as this may indicate diabetes or gestational diabetes.
• Ketones: Presence of ketones in urine may indicate health issues such as diabetes.
• Bilirubin: Presence of bilirubin in urine indicates liver or bile duct problems.
• Nitrite: Presence of nitrite indicates a urinary tract infection.
• Blood: Presence of blood in urine requires further testing and may indicate kidney damage, stones, kidney or bladder cancer, or blood disorders.
• Urine specific gravity: Indicates the weight of the urine compared to the amount of urine. The normal range usually falls between 1.005 and 1.025, and abnormal results may indicate various health conditions.

Results of the analysis are often reported as 'Negative' to indicate the absence of the substance in the urine, or 'Positive' to indicate the presence of the substance and/or to indicate the amount of the substance.

Meanings of Microscopic Examination Codes

During microscopic examination, a laboratory technician examines the urine sample under a microscope to detect small substances such as cells, bacteria, other germs, crystals, and mucus. Here are the codes and their meanings:

• White Blood Cells: Elevated levels indicate a urinary tract infection. Normal range is less than or equal to 2-5 white blood cells per high power field (hpf).
• Red Blood Cells: Elevated levels indicate blood in the urine, which may indicate kidney disease, blood disorders, or underlying medical conditions like bladder cancer. Normal range is 0-2 red blood cells per high power field (hpf).
• Bacteria, Parasites, Yeast: Normally absent in urine; their presence indicates a sexually transmitted infection or inflammation.
• Urinary Casts: Cylinder-shaped proteins, their presence indicates kidney disorders.
• Crystals: Presence indicates kidney stones.
• Epithelial Cells: High levels may indicate infection, inflammation, or cancer in the urinary tract.

You can perform a comprehensive urine analysis provided by Blazma, which does not require fasting or other conditions.