Urinalysis

A urinalysis is a simple test that looks at a small sample of urine. It can help find problems that need treatment, including infections or kidney problems. It can also help find serious diseases in the early stages, like kidney disease, diabetes, or liver disease. A urinalysis is also called a “urine test.”

Urinalysis as part of our pre-employment includes 2 parts:

Visual exam

The urine will be looked at for colour and clearness.

• • Blood may make urine look red or the colour of tea or cola.

  • An infection may make urine look cloudy.

  • Foamy urine can be a sign of kidney problems.

Dipstick test

A dipstick is a thin, plastic stick with strips of chemicals on it. It is dipped into the urine. The strips change color if a substance is present at a level that is above normal. Some of the things a dipstick examination can check for include:

• • Acidity (pH) is a measure of the amount of acid in the urine. A pH that is above normal may be a sign of kidney stones, urinary infections, kidney problems, or other disorders.

  • Protein is an important building block in the body. Everyone has protein in their blood. But it should only be in the blood, not the urine. The kidneys play a role in this process. Healthy kidneys remove waste products and extra water from the blood, but leave behind the things your body needs, like protein. When kidneys are injured, protein leaks into the urine. Having protein in the urine suggests that the kidney's filtering units are damaged by kidney disease.

  • Glucose (sugar) is usually a sign of diabetes. However, some diabetes medication works by eliminating blood sugar through the urine. It is important to document any diabetes medication the candidate is prescribed.

  • White blood cells (pus cells) are signs of infection.

  • Bilirubin is a waste product from the breakdown of old red blood cells. It is normally removed from the blood by the liver. Its presence in the urine may be a sign of liver disease.

  • Blood can It can be a sign of an infection, a kidney problem, certain medicines, or even heavy exercise. Finding blood in the urine requires further testing. It does not mean you have a serious medical problem. For women it may also be a false positive due to menses.

For the purposes of the PEM we record positive results for blood, protein and glucose (and the level).

NOTE: Prior to performing urinalysis - ensure test strips are within their expiry date.