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A urine test, or urinalysis, uses a sample of urine to diagnose diseases of the urinary system and other body systems. It is used to check for early signs of a disease or disorder, including infections such as urinary tract infections or kidney infections.

There are many kinds of urine tests that can be used to detect infection, to monitor various inflammatory illnesses and to diagnose complications. Urine tests used specifically to detect the nature of infectious diseases include nitrate tests and white blood cell tests.

Most urine tests require little preparation. However, it is important that patients clean areas near the urinary opening prior to testing because these areas host bacteria that can contaminate the urine sample, making it unusable for analysis.

Initial methods of urinalysis typically are performed in a physician’s office or laboratory and usually take just a few minutes to perform. After a sample of urine has been obtained, it is visually and chemically examined for abnormalities. If such abnormalities are present, the sample may undergo more rigorous testing such as microscopic examination or culture.