What is the primary purpose of urinalysis?

The primary purpose of urinalysis is to diagnose and monitor diseases. This test evaluates various components of urine, such as the presence of glucose, protein, blood, or bacteria, which can indicate underlying health conditions. For instance, the detection of glucose may suggest diabetes, while the presence of red blood cells may indicate kidney stones or infections. Furthermore, urinalysis can play a crucial role in monitoring the progression of known diseases, assessing treatment outcomes, and identifying potential complications.

While assessing kidney function, evaluating medication efficacy, and checking hydration levels are important aspects of health evaluation, they are more specific applications that can also be derived from urinalysis results. However, the overarching goal of urinalysis encompasses a broader spectrum of disease diagnosis and monitoring, making it the primary purpose of the test.