A urinalysis checks the appearance, concentration and content of your urine to detect and manage disorders, such as diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease. For example, a urinary tract infection can make urine look cloudy instead of clear, and increased levels of protein can be a sign of kidney disease.
A urinalysis might be requested if you have abdominal pain, back pain, frequent or painful urination, blood in your urine, or other urinary problems to help diagnose the cause of these signs and symptoms. In addition, if you’ve already been diagnosed with a medical condition, regular urinalysis can help monitor your condition and any treatments.