In-Office Urinalysis Testing

Why In-House Testing Makes a Difference

When urinalysis specimens are sent to an outside laboratory, results can take two or more days to return — and even then, your physician may not be able to review and act on those results until a day or two after that. With our in-house lab, results are available in minutes. Your provider can review findings, ask follow-up questions, and adjust your care plan during the same appointment — no waiting, no callbacks, no delays.

What We Test For

Our quantitative urinalysis measures the following markers with precision:

• Microalbumin — Detects protein in the urine, often one of the earliest warning signs of kidney damage
• Glucose — Identifies sugar in the urine, which directly reflects blood sugar levels
• Microprotein — Measures overall protein levels, which can indicate kidney filtering problems or inflammation
• Beta-Hydroxybutyrate — Detects ketones that may signal uncontrolled diabetes or dehydration
• Bilirubin — Checks for bile pigment in the urine, which may point to liver disease
• pH — Measures urine acidity or alkalinity, which can reflect a range of underlying medical conditions
• Specific Gravity — Assesses urine concentration to evaluate hydration and kidney function
• Creatinine — Measures a waste product filtered by the kidneys; elevated levels can indicate impaired kidney function
• Hemoglobin — Detects the presence of blood in the urine, which may signal infection, kidney stones, or other urinary tract conditions
• Nitrite — Screens for bacterial presence in the urine, which may indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Urobilinogen — Measures a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown; elevated levels may suggest liver disease
• Leukocyte Esterase — Checks for white blood cells in the urine, which can indicate inflammation or infection

What This Means for You

Please plan to provide a urine sample at every appointment. Urinalysis is a routine and essential part of your kidney care visit — and one of the most valuable tools your provider has. We ask every patient to come prepared for this at each visit. Because this testing is performed right here in our office, we will not send urinalysis orders to outside labs for patients who are able to provide a sample during their appointment.

With in-house quantitative urinalysis, your care team can:

• Review results and adjust your treatment plan the same day — no waiting days for a report, no follow-up calls just to go over numbers
• Track subtle changes in kidney function over time using exact measurements, not estimates
• Reduce the need for additional appointments created solely to discuss lab results
• Eliminate the hassle of visiting a separate lab before or after your visit

The result is earlier detection, tighter disease management, and more connected, continuous care, especially for patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension, or diabetes.