The Role of Urine Tests in Detecting Kidney Diseases

About Kidneys:

Kidneys are organs the size of a human fist on both sides of the spine below the rib cage. They play a major role in maintaining your health by filtering the waste materials from the blood and excreting them in Urine. Simultaneously they are also involved in keeping water and mineral content, production of vitamins, RBCs, and a few hormones in the body. Multiple tests are available for checking the abnormal conditions and functions of the kidney. Majorly, the tests target either the urine or blood and measure different characteristics of kidney function. The urine test is the simplest test for diagnosing Kidney issues.

Role of Urine Tests in Kidney Diseases:

In Simple terms, Urine tests help the clinician check for parameters like kidney functions, signs of kidney diseases, urinary tract infections, and abnormal conditions in your urine sample. It also helps in checking and keeping track of diseases such as diabetes, STIs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), and kidney or bladder cancer. From time-to-time urine routine tests can detect any kidney-related ailment early which can be beneficial in the treatment.

Types of Urine tests:

Urine is constituted of many substances found in specific amounts, so anything higher or lower levels indicates something is abnormal. Further tests should be done and correlated with the patient’s clinical history for the final diagnosis. Some of the basicurine tests include:

• Urinalysis: It’s a basic test to check the main physical and chemical features in the urine such as:

- Visual check for color and cloudiness in the urine.

- To Check for any bacteria, yeast, pus cells, WBCs, RBCs, Crystals, or other debris in urine under the microscope.

- To check the chemical composition of urine such as Ph, Proteins, ketones, glucose using dipstick tests or automated machines.

- To check Albumin-to-creatinine ratio.

• 24-hour Urine:

This test analyzes urine over a period of 24 hours. The first urine in the morning once you get up is not collected, but time is noted. From here next 24 hours, every time urine passes are collected in a container until the last one for the day. Once done the total urine sample is analyzed for proteins, hormones, salts and metabolic products that are released from the body which can help in identifying many disorders like high blood pressure, kidney cancer, kidney stones etc.

• Urine Culture:

Urine Culture helps in identifying the germs such as bacteria and fungi in the urine of an individual. Midstream urine is collected without any contamination, then it is streaked on the culture plate incubated for 1 or 2 days and identified depending on the growth. It helps clinicians identify Urinary tract infections and additionally based on antibiotics susceptibility treatment can be given.

Other Blood tests for detecting kidney diseases:

• Serum Creatinine: This test gives the amount of creatine levels in the blood. Creatinine is a waste product in the blood that comes from muscles. High serum creatinine level indicates kidney problems.

• Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): It measures the urea nitrogen present in the blood, higher than normal suggesting kidney issues.

• Estimated GFR (eGFR): It measures the filtering rate of the kidney for removing waste and extra water to make urine in the kidney.

Summary:

Kidneys are the organs that aid in removal of waste from the body. Urine and Blood tests help in identifying how well your kidneys are working. Some of the most common diseases that can be detected by urine tests include Kidney Failure, Diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Monitoring urine and blood tests through urine routine tests is important in daily life for checking any risk of kidney disease. Kidney health can be improved by regular exercise, eating nutritious food, sufficient water consumption, and having low salt food.