What does urinalysis mean?
Urinalysis is the laboratory examination of urine to evaluate its physical, chemical, and microscopic characteristics. Clinicians use it to look for evidence of urinary tract infections, kidney problems, diabetes, or other abnormalities; findings may include blood, protein, glucose, bacteria, or other substances in the urine. Although the singular form is common, the word can be treated as a mass noun when referring generally to the procedure, as in "routine urinalysis." It is also used as a countable noun for an individual test. The expression is formal and is especially common in medicine, nursing, laboratory work, and health-related reporting. For a general audience, the plainer alternative "urine test" is often easier to understand. The word is closely associated with the long-established medical practice of examining urine, which clinicians historically used to assess illness before modern laboratory techniques became available.
nounThe laboratory examination of urine to evaluate its composition and identify abnormalities. The term may also refer to the test used to perform this examination.
- The laboratory examination of urine to assess its composition and detect substances or abnormalities associated with urinary tract, metabolic, or other medical conditions.
"The clinic ordered a urinalysis to check for a urinary tract infection."
"A urinalysis showed elevated protein levels, prompting further testing."
"The nurse recorded the urinalysis results before the physician made his rounds."
Usually treated as a mass noun when referring generally to the test or procedure, but countable when referring to individual tests.
"The laboratory reported two urinalyses, both of which were normal."
A urinalysis turns a familiar fluid into a clinical snapshot of what is happening inside the body.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of urinalysis
Urinalysis was formed in the 19th century by combining English "urine," from Latin urina, with "analysis," from Latin analysis and ultimately Greek analysís, meaning a breaking up or analysis. The word reflects the development of systematic laboratory examination of urine in medicine. Its related forms include "urinary" and "urinal" on the urine side and "analysis" on the analytical side, while "urology" belongs to the same medical field concerned with the urinary tract.
How urinalysis is actually used
This is a formal medical term, used especially in clinical settings and laboratory reports. In general conversation, "urine test" is more accessible.
Easily confused with urinalysis
A urinal is a fixture designed for urination, whereas urinalysis is the laboratory examination of a urine sample.