Urinalysis Questions and Answers

The urinalysis test is a common, simple test that’s done for several different reasons. It may be done to:

• Diagnose the cause of certain symptoms: A medical professional may suggest a urinalysis if a patient is experiencing minor abdominal pain, frequent or painful urination, or another urinary problem
• Check a patient’s overall health: A professional may recommend a urinalysis as a part of a routine medical exam, pregnancy checkup, or pre-surgery preparation
• Monitor a health condition: A patient with a health condition like kidney disease or a urinary tract disease may need urinalysis tests on a regular basis
• Screen for certain substances: Substances like alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana can be screened for
• Check for or confirm pregnancy: A certain kind of urine test may be done for this

Depending on a patient’s situation, the patient might be asked to collect a sample at home or at a medical clinic. Either way, the patient will be given a container for the urine sample. When the patient is ready, they will:

• Cleanse the urinary opening
• Urinate into the collection container
• Give the sample to a professional

More detailed instructions can be provided by a medical professional prior to the procedure. In some cases, a professional might need to insert a thin, flexible tube (catheter) through the urinary tract in order to collect a sample, but this isn’t very common.

After the sample is collected, it’s tested in a lab, like a lab in an urgent care clinic. Many urgent care clinics have in-house labs. This is really convenient because the clinic won’t have to send the sample out for testing, and the patient won’t have to wait long for the test results! The patient may be able to wait for the results of certain tests, or just go home and wait for a call from the clinic.

A normal finding in a urinalysis may be a yellow color to the urine, clear or slightly cloudy urine, and/or a pH of 4.5-8. There may be other indicators too. When a finding is normal, this typically means the test is negative and there isn’t a need for further testing. A professional will tell you how to proceed after your test.

Many urgent care clinics provide urinalysis tests, and at these clinics, a patient can simply walk in for a test right on the spot. This can be especially convenient in many situations, like when a patient needs a drug test right away for their employer.

We hope you found this Q&A helpful! We encourage you to contact us at Immediate Care of Oklahoma if you have any other questions. You’re also welcome to reach out to us or come see us if you need a urinalysis. We’d be happy to hear from you or see you for any reason!