Color

Normal urine usually ranges from a light yellow to a dark amber color that may vary according to the concentration and the type of food and drugs that are ingested. The color of urine is attributed to its chief pigment, "urochrome". Changes in urine may be due to disease, but can also be caused by food and drugs ingested.

Transparency

Freshly voided urine is usually clear. Samples exposed to room temperature for more than an hour or two may become cloudy bur to bacterial growth or precipitation of phosphates or urates. Possible transparency are the presence of kidney stones, bacteria, sperm, yeasts, or stool contamination.

Odor

The odor of a fresh urine sample is normally Aromatic. The odor, when unusual (Ammonia-like sweet and fruity), may be due to a urinary tract infection, or the presence of ketone bodies as in Diabetes, starvation, strenuous exercise, vomiting, diarrhea, malnutrition; or may be due to the ingestion of certain food or to the contamination of the urine container.

Specific Gravity

The specific gravity of urine depends on the gravity and number of molecules dissolved in solution of the urine sample. The normal urinary specific gravity may range from 1.002 to 1.030. Most of the molecules dissolved in the urine are made of Sodium Chloride and Urea. Urine is usually More concentrated in the morning which, is a normal phenomenon. Abnormally diluted urine may be present in kidney disease whereas very concentrated urine with high specific gravity may be present in diabetes, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

Leukocytes

Leukocytes are one of the white (Leuko) cells (Cytes) present in blood stream which defend the body from bacterial invasion. When present in the urine may suggest the presence of an underlying mild urinary tract infection. A repeated presence of leukocytes indicate the needs for further testing such as cultures or blood test.

Nitrates

The presence of nitrates in the urine is due to the conversion of nitrates in food by the action of the bacteria. Therefore, a positive nitrate test is a good indicator for the presence of a significant amount of bacteria in urine. This may be associated with a urinary tract infection of a bladder or urethral the tube which connects the bladder to the outside) infection. Significant bacteriuria is estimated to affect 1%-2% of young girls,5%-10% of pregnant women and is also associated with diabetes, hypertension, herniation of the urinary bladder, Prostate problems and the use of a catheter for drawing certain anatomic abnormalities.

Ph

Normally freshly voided urine is acid. Therefore, the PH which is a measure of acidity may range from 4.0-7.0. People who eat high protein diets produce a more acid urine than those that consume mostly fruits and vegetables. Increased urinary acidity (lower PH) may also be present in diabetes, fever, pulmonary emphysema, diarrhea and dehydration. Alkaline PH (Higher PH) may also be noted in chronic inflammation of the urinary bladder, acute or chronic kidney failure, or for intoxication of salicylate ( such as aspirin) or other drugs.

Proteins

The presence of proteins in the urine is called "Proteinuria" and is an important sign of renal disease. Proteinuria can be due to an increased permeability of the walls of the filtering components of the kidneys (The glomerulus). Proteins may be present in a number of kidney diseases. However a small amount of proteins, mostly albumin, may appear in the urine in response to excessive muscular exertion, exposure to colds, or with extra ingestion of proteins with food. In some people the presence of proteins in the urine may occur upon arising from a sitting position. This is called " Orthostatic Proteinuria". Proteinuria may also be present in acute inflammation of the kidneys as acute nephritis, or in the presence of malignant hypertension, heart failure and diabetes.

Ketones

Ketones are called "Ketone bodies" and include acetone, diacetic acid and beta hydrobutyric acid and and appear in normal urine of patients on a carbohydrate-deficent diet. When the body can not find sufficient sugar for its metabolism it turns to its fat stores for energy which in turn are reduced to ketone bodies. Ketone bodies appear in urine before they increase significantly in blood and this is called "Ketonuria". The presence of ketones in the urine may occur in uncontrolled diabetes and hyperthyroidism.