Health Information
Urine Test
What To Think About
- Some urine tests can be done using a home test kit. For more information, see the topic Reference Ketones or Reference Home Test for Urinary Tract Infections.
- Other substances that may be checked during a urine test
include:
- Reference Bilirubin Opens New Window. This is a substance formed by the breakdown of red blood cells. It is passed from the body in stool. Bilirubin is not found in urine. If it is present, it often means that the liver is damaged or that the flow of bile from the gallbladder is blocked. For more information, see the topic Reference Bilirubin.
- Urobilinogen. This is a substance formed by the breakdown of bilirubin. It is also passed from the body in stool. Only small amounts of urobilinogen are found in urine. Urobilinogen in urine can be a sign of liver disease (Reference cirrhosis Opens New Window, Reference hepatitis Opens New Window) or that the flow of bile from the gallbladder is blocked.
- Bence Jones protein. This is an abnormal protein found in the urine of about 50% of people with a rare type of cancer called Reference multiple myeloma Opens New Window. A urine test is often done when multiple myeloma is suspected. The protein test done during a regular urine test does not check for Bence Jones protein.
- To lower the chance of contaminating the urine sample with bacteria, a health professional may collect a urine sample by using a urinary catheter. A catheter may be used to collect urine from a person in the hospital who is very ill or who can't give a clean-catch sample. Using a catheter allows a clean sample to be collected.
- If an abnormal result is found during a urine test, more tests may be done, such as a urine culture, Reference X-ray Opens New Window of the kidneys (Reference intravenous pyelogram [IVP] Opens New Window), or Reference cystoscopy Opens New Window. For more information, see the topics Reference Urine Culture, Reference Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP), and Reference Cystoscopy.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference September 4, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology |
|
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