Urinalysis

Background

The concept that ordinary bodily fluids could yield insight into physiology emerged from the examination of urine. In fact, laboratory medicine began 6,000 years ago when Sumerian and Babylonian physicians recorded onto clay tablets their reflections on urine, thus introducing the objective study of human urine (a feat that would be called uroscopy , now called urinalysis [UA]).

UA is a simple, cheap, noninvasive test that can be helpful in diagnosing and monitoring a range of diseases. From a small sample of urine, a correctly performed and interpreted UA allows clinicians to quickly learn a great deal about a patient. Many medications can change the nature of the urine, from its color to its performance on UA; therefore, it is important to be mindful of a patient’s medication when reviewing their UA.