What diseases does a urinalysis primarily detect?
Disease description:
I went for a prenatal checkup when I was over three months pregnant. The doctor ordered blood and urine tests. I understand that the blood test can detect anemia, but I’ve never understood the purpose of the urine test. What conditions is the urine test primarily used to screen for?
Doctor's answer (2)
Dr. Ma Fujun
This is a routine prenatal examination. Urinalysis primarily checks for the presence of protein in the urine; if proteinuria is detected, kidney disease should be ruled out first. The test also examines for white blood cells in the urine—presence of white blood cells may indicate a urinary tract infection. Additionally, it assesses whether urinary glucose levels are elevated, which can aid in the diagnosis of diabetes. All these tests are conducted to ensure maternal health and support a healthy pregnancy.
