Definition

Noun: 1. A laboratory test of a urine sample: A medical procedure involving the chemical, microscopic, and physical examination of urine to assess health, detect disease, or monitor medical conditions.

Usage

• Primary Use: The term is used almost exclusively in medical and clinical contexts to refer to a standard diagnostic test.
• Common Contexts: Doctor's orders, laboratory reports, medical discussions, and health check-ups.
• Grammar: It is a non-count noun when referring to the procedure in general (e.g., "Urinalysis is routine.") and a count noun when referring to specific instances or results (e.g., "The urinalysis was normal.").

Examples

• The doctor ordered a urinalysis to check for a urinary tract infection.
• Routine urinalysis can detect early signs of diabetes or kidney disease.
• The results of the urinalysis showed elevated protein levels.

Advanced Usage

• "Dipstick urinalysis": A rapid, preliminary test using a chemically treated strip dipped into the urine sample to provide immediate results for specific parameters like pH, glucose, or blood.
• "Microscopic urinalysis": The detailed examination of urine sediment under a microscope to identify cells, crystals, or bacteria.

Variants and Related Words

• Urinalyses (n): The plural form of urinalysis, used when referring to multiple tests or results.
  • Example: The patient's previous urinalyses were all within normal limits.
• Urine test (n): A more general, informal synonym for urinalysis.
• UA (n): A common medical abbreviation for urinalysis.
  • Example: The lab report is back; the UA is clear.

Synonyms

• Urine analysis: A direct synonym, often used interchangeably.
• Urine test: A broader, less technical term.

Notes on Different Meanings

The word urinalysis has only one core meaning related to medical diagnostic testing. It is not used in non-medical contexts and does not have idiomatic or phrasal verb forms.

Noun

1. (medicine) the chemical analysis of urine (for medical diagnosis)