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Kidney Function Urine Test



 Submitted by Nic on September 12, 2011
The kidneys are vital organs in the body, as they perform several vital functions, some of which include regulating the balance of water in the body, getting rid of the metabolic waste from the blood and maintaining the levels of alkalinity and acid in the fluids of the body. However, it is possible for the kidneys to get infected due to different reasons, which in turn affects its functioning, as well as the overall health of the human body. Therefore, in order to assess the extent of the infection or the damage, doctors may advise a patient to undergo a kidney function urine test.

What is a kidney function urine test?

A kidney function urine test is a screening process in which a sample of a person’s urine is analyzed in a lab to check whether the kidney is functioning properly or not. In fact, there are different types of urine tests that can be conducted for this purpose. The first kidney function urine test that most doctors recommend is a simple and inexpensive urinalysis. In order to conduct this test, a random urine sample is collected, which is first physically examined for odor, concentration, appearance and color. This sample is also checked for chemical substances, like PH levels, glucose and protein. There are several other cellular elements that this urine sample could be tested for, microscopically, as well as crystals, bacteria and casts. In case the reading of a kidney function urine test indicates that there may be an infection or a disease that the person is suffering from, then further tests may be required, which include a creatinine clearance test, a urea clearance test, a urine osmolality test and a urine protein test.

In several cases, doctors usually diagnose the presence of a kidney infection, just by studying the symptoms. However, in some cases, doctors may also advise patients to go through a kidney infection urine test, mainly to identify what the main cause of the infection. A similar test, like the bladder infection urine test, may also be recommended in case of a suspected infection, or to check for the presence of bacteria.

Kidney Stone Urine Test

There are certain factors that could lead to the formation of kidney stones in the body. These stones usually trigger of symptoms like intense pain, diarrhea, nausea, foul smell in the urine, and difficulty in passing urine. Most doctors identify the condition, just by observing the symptoms. The other most commons way of checking for the presence of stones is by going through a kidney stone urine test, or a blood test.
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