Urinalysis

A urinalysis is a diagnostic test that detects a wide range of health issues. St. Michael's Elite Hospital in Sugar Land, Texas, is a state-of-the-art facility that provides emergency care without the wait. Like the traditional emergency room, St. Michael's Elite Hospital has an onsite lab that provides rapid results. The team of board-certified emergency room physicians may order a urinalysis to diagnose the cause of your symptoms. For quick and compassionate care that’s better than the traditional ER, call St. Michael's Elite Hospital. Walk-ins are welcome. 

What is a urinalysis?

A urinalysis is a diagnostic test that evaluates a sample of your urine. At St. Michael's Elite Hospital, the lab technician collects a “clean-catch” urine sample that your board-certified emergency room physician then evaluates.

When evaluating urine, your provider looks at:

• The physical color and appearance
• Concentration
• Microscopic evaluation of the cells, mucus, and other substances
• Presence of bacteria or other microorganisms
• Chemical appearance

They also send your urine sample to the lab for a complete analysis. 

Why would I need a urinalysis?

A urinalysis detects and measures various compounds that pass through urine. You may need a urinalysis to:

Assess overall health

The team at St. Michael's Elite Hospital may request a urinalysis to assess your overall health and well-being. Your urine sample provides information about the health of your kidneys and liver. It’s also a simple screening tool for diabetes. 

Diagnose or monitor a medical condition

You may also need a urinalysis to find the underlying cause of various symptoms, such as abdominal pain, frequent urination, or blood-tinged urine. The team also orders a urinalysis to diagnose certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), for rapid drug testing, and to test for pregnancy.

If you have kidney disease or a history of urinary tract infections, the team may run a urinalysis to monitor these conditions and the effectiveness of current or previous treatments. 

What happens during a urinalysis?

Your urinalysis at St. Michael's Elite Hospital may be one of many diagnostic tests you undergo during your emergency care visit. For the test, the lab technician requires a urine sample free of outside contaminants, which may affect the results. 

The team may have you provide a urine sample, or they may obtain a urine sample through a catheter. The method of collection depends on your immediate health needs and situation. 

Once they collect your urine sample, the team sends it to the lab for a quick analysis. 

How are the results of a urinalysis used?

The team at St. Michael's Elite Hospital uses the information provided by your urinalysis to confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis and determine the next steps for your care. That may include treatment recommendations or additional testing. 

The team at St. Michael's Elite Hospital wants to ensure you get accurate and efficient care during your medical emergency. The full-service emergency room and hospital provides onsite testing and treatment so you can get better faster.

For a better alternative to the traditional hospital ER, call St. Michael's Elite Hospital. Walk-ins are welcome.