What does protein in urine mean?

Small amounts of protein can be normal, especially after exercise. Persistent proteinuria may indicate kidney damage, high blood pressure effects, or diabetes-related kidney disease. If found, your doctor may order follow-up testing.

Can urinalysis detect UTI?

Urinalysis can strongly suggest UTI by detecting leukocytes (white blood cells) and nitrites (produced by bacteria). However, urine culture is the gold standard for confirming UTI and identifying the specific bacteria for proper antibiotic selection.

Why is my urine dark?

Dark urine often indicates dehydration—drinking more water usually helps. However, it can also result from certain foods, medications, or medical conditions like liver problems (very dark) or blood in urine (red/brown). Persistent dark urine warrants evaluation.

How should I collect the sample?

Clean-catch midstream: Start urinating into the toilet, then catch the middle portion in the sterile cup, and finish in the toilet. This reduces contamination from skin bacteria. Follow any specific instructions from the lab.

Back to Tests

✨ General Health

Complete Urinalysis

Urinalysis

A complete urinalysis examines the physical, chemical, and microscopic properties of urine to screen for urinary tract infections, kidney disease, diabetes, and other conditions.

Urinalysis is one of the oldest and most valuable diagnostic tests in medicine. By examining urine—a product of kidney filtration—this test provides insights into urinary tract health, kidney function, metabolic conditions, and overall health.

A complete urinalysis includes three components: visual examination (color, clarity), chemical analysis (dipstick testing for proteins, glucose, blood, and other substances), and microscopic examination (cells, crystals, bacteria). Abnormalities can indicate infection, kidney disease, diabetes, dehydration, and many other conditions.

Urinalysis is non-invasive, inexpensive, and provides rapid results, making it an excellent screening tool and an essential part of health evaluation.

Price

All-in

$27

incl. $18 lab & physician fee

Results

1 business days

Fasting

Not Required

What's Measured

Specific Gravity

Protein

Glucose

Ketones

Blood

Leukocytes

Nitrites

What This Test Measures

This test analyzes: pH (acidity), specific gravity (concentration), protein, glucose, ketones, blood, leukocytes (white blood cells), nitrites, bilirubin, urobilinogen, and microscopic elements like cells, casts, and crystals.

Who Should Consider This Test

Anyone with urinary symptoms (pain, frequency, blood in urine), those screening for kidney disease, people with diabetes, pregnant women, anyone with unexplained abdominal pain, and those wanting routine health screening.

Health Insights

Conditions Screened

Urinary tract infection (UTI)Kidney diseaseDiabetes (glucose in urine)DehydrationKidney stonesBladder cancer screeningProteinuria (protein in urine)

Related Symptoms

Painful urinationFrequent urinationBlood in urineCloudy or foul-smelling urineAbdominal or back painFever with urinary symptomsUrinary urgency

When to Get Tested

No fasting required. Ideally provide a "clean-catch" midstream sample. Avoid testing during menstruation (can contaminate sample with blood). First morning urine is often most concentrated and useful.

No fasting needed. How to prepare for your blood test →

Understanding Your Results

Normal urine is yellow, clear, with pH 4.5-8, specific gravity 1.005-1.030, and negative for protein, glucose, blood, leukocytes, and nitrites. Abnormalities suggest specific conditions: nitrites/leukocytes suggest infection, glucose suggests diabetes, protein may indicate kidney disease.

What to Expect

After placing your order, we send it straight to Quest Diagnostics — there is no consent form to sign and no partner email to wait for. Your requisition is usually ready to download from your dashboard within about an hour, and you can book your blood draw at any Quest Diagnostics location.

The blood draw typically takes just a few minutes. Results are usually available within 1 business days and will appear in your secure JustLabs dashboard.

Our results include reference ranges and easy-to-understand indicators showing whether your values are within normal limits.

How much does the Urinalysis test cost?

The Urinalysis test costs $9 at JustLabs — $27 all-in, since the $18 lab & physician order fee is charged once per order, however many tests you add. The price is fixed before your blood draw; no insurance or doctor visit needed.