What is the primary purpose of performing urinalysis?

The primary purpose of performing urinalysis is to determine urine characteristics. Urinalysis provides valuable information about the physical, chemical, and microscopic aspects of urine, allowing healthcare professionals to assess a patient's overall health and identify various medical conditions. For instance, by examining the color, clarity, odor, and specific gravity of urine, along with performing chemical tests for substances like protein, glucose, and ketones, clinicians can detect a range of abnormalities. These abnormalities may indicate conditions such as infections, kidney disease, diabetes, or other metabolic issues.

While measuring glucose levels can be part of a urinalysis, it is just one component of a broader assessment of urine characteristics. Similarly, evaluating blood cell counts and assessing liver function are not done through urinalysis; they typically require different types of tests, such as blood tests. Thus, determining urine characteristics encapsulates the comprehensive and multifaceted analysis that urinalysis aims to achieve.