Description

A urine test to look for kidney, liver & metabolism disorders, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and signs of diabetes and bladder cancer.

Medication treatment available for UTI detection

Our Urinalysis test is a comprehensive urine test that can detect a range of disorders and conditions from kidney disease to signs of diabetes and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

What is a Urinalysis test?

A urinalysis involves checking the appearance, concentration, and content of your urine. Your urine can provide a lot of detail about your overall health, from certain disorders and conditions to infections and kidney stones.

Through a combination of visual examination of the urine, a dipstick test, and viewing concentrated drops of your urine — urine that’s been spun in a machine — under a microscope, this test can look for:

• Kidney disease and disorders: Measuring the acidity in your urine, as well as proteins, casts, crystals, and any red blood cells that could indicate kidney disease or disorders of the kidney such as kidney stones.
• Liver disease: Detecting a substance called Bilirubin in your urine which might indicate liver damage or disease.
• Diabetes: Although this test should not be used to confirm Diabetes, it does detect any glucose (Sugar) in your urine which could indicate diabetes, and calls for follow-up testing for diabetes.
• Infection: Looking for nitrites or leukocyte esterase — a product of white blood cells (part of your immune system) — or any yeast, parasites, or bacteria in your urine that might indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI).
• Hydration: Measuring the concentration of urine which is an indication of your fluid intake.
• Blood Disorders and Bladder Cancer: Looking for traces of blood in your urine and calling for additional testing as it may be a sign of kidney or bladder stones, kidney or bladder cancer, or blood disorders.

When should I take this test?

• General health check: This test is performed as part of a general health check, but normally if you have certain symptoms such as back pain, frequent or painful urination, or blood in the urine
• Suspected Urinary Tract Infection: Pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria), needing to pee more often than usual, a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery and blood in your pee are all signs of a UTI infection
• If you are diabetic or suspect diabetes: This test is usually done if you are a Type-2 diabetic as part of your annual diabetes health check to see how well your kidneys are working.  It is also undertaken if diabetes is suspected.

How do I take this test?

You can take this test in the comfort of your home using the urine sample container which we will send out to you when you order. It is best to take a mid-stream urine sample and send it off the same day it is taken.

Urine for urinalysis can be collected at any time. The first-morning sample is the most valuable because it is more concentrated and more likely to demonstrate abnormal results if there is an underlying problem e.g. blood from bleeding in the urinary tract.

How do we ensure the stability of your sample?

Our new urine test kits contain a preservative called boric acid. This allows you to take a self collection urine sample and send it back to the laboratory via post without it effecting the stability of your urine sample and ensures an accurate result. To ensure your sample is stable, we advise that you should avoid sending your sample over the weekend or on a bank holiday. Your sample should ideally arrive back at the laboratory within 24 hours from sample collection.

This test has been validated by UKAS.

How will I receive my results?

You will receive your results in a secure email which will be sent usually within 3 days of the lab receiving your sample.

What if any of my results are abnormal?

If your results are abnormal, our clinical team will provide a referral to your GP to recommend further testing. For some markers, such as raised sugar levels in your urine, we will also suggest additional tests you can order through us such as a HbA1C test which is more specific for diagnosis of diabetes.

Medication treatment available for UTI detection

If your results show you have a urinary tract infection, you will be able to request antibiotic medication through our online pharmacy. This is a separate service from this test. Treatment is currently £40 which includes your consultation, prescription and medication. Treatment is only provided if clinically indicated after completing an online consultation for our prescriber to review and check whether treatment is suitable. If your treatment is approved, medication will be delivered to any UK address.