Urinalysis

Urinalysis refers to the laboratory evaluation of urine to assess physiological and pathological conditions through measurement of physical properties, chemical constituents, and microscopic components. This routine diagnostic tool provides information on kidney function, hydration status, metabolic abnormalities, infection, and systemic disease indicators. Standard urinalysis includes dipstick testing for parameters such as pH, protein, glucose, ketones, blood, leukocytes, and nitrites, alongside microscopic examination.

The pharmaceutical industry uses urinalysis extensively in preclinical and clinical safety monitoring. Toxicology studies assess renal toxicity by evaluating urinary protein levels, haematuria, or abnormal sediment findings. Clinical trials include urinalysis as part of safety panels detecting adverse effects such as nephrotoxicity, urinary tract infections, or metabolic disturbances. Biomarker development efforts explore urinary markers for early detection of kidney injury, improving sensitivity compared to traditional serum creatinine measurements. Method standardisation ensures consistency across sites and timepoints, with quality controls maintaining accuracy. As safety monitoring becomes increasingly proactive and biomarker-driven, urinalysis remains a practical, informative tool supporting patient protection and drug safety evaluation across diverse therapeutic programmes.