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Why Urinalysis is Essential in Medical Exams: Insights from DOT Physicals

Posted on September 17, 2024 by AntiTeckUrine Dipstick

A urinalysis is a urine examination. Healthcare sectors usually conduct this test in various places, such as doctor's offices, urgent care clinics, laboratories, hospitals, and even the home.

Urinalysis detects symptoms of diseases, including those that are not visible to us. Mainly, it identifies urinary tract or kidney infections. Also, it diagnoses the cause of kidney failure and monitors the course of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) urine test is a necessary component for commercial driver's medical screening procedures. It is essential to check that drivers are in good health, capable of adequately operating commercial vehicles, and adhere to DOT requirements. 

A urinalysis is performed during DOT physical to assess kidney function, focusing on specific gravity, protein, blood, and sugar. These might be indicators of other, more severe health issues.  

So, in this blog, we will discuss why a medical examiner would need to do urinalysis insights from DOT physicals.

What is Urinalysis?

Urinalysis is an initial basic test that examines the critical characteristics of urine. It is typically conducted as part of a standard assessment when people are admitted to the hospital and before surgery. It can also investigate abnormal results from a simple urine test.

Many people think of urinalysis as simply "the test where you pee in a cup." Usually, it is all you need to do for your part. Then, your provider sends your sample to a lab, where it is studied under a microscope, checked for certain substances, and recorded in its appearance.

urine-strip

A complete urinalysis is performed in a laboratory. It generally includes:

  • Examination of the chemical composition of the urine using a test strip (Dipstick Test)
  • Examination of the urine under a microscope to look for bacteria, cells, and parts of cells (Microscopic Exam)

Dipstick test

The urine test strip is a narrow plastic strip with numerous different colored squares attached to it. Each little square represents a urine interpretation test component. The complete test strip is dipped in the urine sample, and color changes in each square are recorded. The color shift occurs after a few seconds to a few minutes of dipping the strip. The findings may be incorrect if the urinalysis strip is read too soon or too late.

Dipstick urinalysis testing may involve acidity (urine pH).

  • Blood (hemoglobin)
  • Glucose
  • Ketones
  • Leukocyte Esterase
  • Nitrites
  • Protein
  • Urine-specific gravity test 

Microscopic exam

Microscopic urinalysis is the examination of a urine sample using a microscope. It merely takes a low-cost light microscope. Microscopic examination can find cells and cellular debris, germs, and crystals in the urine (crystalluria), confirming the dipstick color change and providing further clinical information.

Microscopic examinations can detect 

  • Crystals 
  • Epithelial cells
  • Infections include bacteria, yeast, and parasites
  • Red blood cells (RBCs)
  • Urinary Casts
  • White Blood Cells (WBC): 
urinalysis-test-strips

Why Medical Examiners Perform Urinalysis?

Medical Examiners conduct Urinalysis, which is a basic test that examines a small sample of your urine. It helps to investigate illnesses that are treatable, like infections or kidney problems. Also, Urinalysis can diagnose major diseases like kidney problems, diabetes, and liver diseases at an early stage.

To check your overall health status, a urinalysis can be conducted during a routine medical exam, pregnancy checkup, or pre-surgical preparation.

Specific Reasons for Conducting Urinalysis:

When a person is admitted to a hospital, doctors conduct a urinalysis to evaluate the overall health and the condition's range.

If you are going through urinary issues (blood in urine, continuous and painful urination), back pain, or stomach issues, a urinalysis can perform to identify a cause.

The doctor suggests a urine test every day to monitor your progress and treatment if you have a kidney problem or urinary infection.

Common Misconceptions about Urinalysis in DOT Physicals:

The urine test for DOT physical urinalysis is NOT A DRUG TEST. The driver is not checked for drug usage during the DOT physical, as is commonly believed. However, keep in mind that many companies demand a pre-employment drug test, and your employer may ask for a drug screen when doing your DOT urinalysis. 

This drug test generally looks for chemicals including

  • Marijuana
  • Cocaine
  • Opiates
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)
  • Amphetamines/methamphetamines
sg-in-urine-test

FAQs On Medical Urinalysis

Why would a doctor order a urinalysis?

A doctor performs urinalysis:

  • For normal screening tests 
  • To search for symptoms of infection
  • For kidney or liver disease
  • For diabetes
  • For other medical issues.

What are the top three reasons for performing a urinalysis?

A urinalysis may be done:

  • As part of a standard medical examination to detect early indications of illness.
  • If you have symptoms or indeed have diabetes or renal disease.
  • To detect blood in urine and a urinary tract infection.
what-does-dot-physical-urine-test-for

What is a medical urinalysis test for?

Medical urinalysis is performed:

  • Before surgery and when doing a pregnancy examination.
  • To find the cause of a kidney or urinary tract disease
  • For regular long-term monitoring conditions, such as renal disease.

What diseases can be diagnosed by urinalysis?

Here are the top 5 diseases that can be diagnosed by urinalysis

  • To Detect Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
  • For Kidney Function
  • For Cancer Screening and Diagnosis
  • For the cause of High Blood Pressure
  • For Sexually Transmitted Diseases

What is the medical importance of urinalysis?

A urinalysis is a urine test that diagnoses and treats various conditions like 

  • Urinary tract infections
  • Renal disease
  • Diabetes 
why-would-a-medical-examiner-need-to-do-a-urinalysis

Real-Life Impact of Urinalysis in DOT Physicals

Urinalysis is essential in DOT physicals because it detects crucial health issues early on, prevents possible accidents, and ensures employee safety. Here are some case studies.

Case Studies:

Diabetic Detection: A truck driver's urinalysis revealed elevated glucose levels, prompting a diabetes diagnosis. Timely treatment avoided problems and ensured the driver's safety on the road.

Kidney illness: A urinalysis revealed proteinuria (excess protein in the urine) in a bus driver, indicating early-stage kidney illness. Prompt medical care slowed disease development and protected the driver's health.

Substance abuse: Urine analysis showed signs of substance abuse in a commercial driver, allowing for intervention and treatment while also preserving road safety. 

Discussion:

Patients have benefited from timely diagnosis by urinalysis.

  • Preventing mishaps due to underlying medical issues.
  • Allowing for early treatment and management of chronic disorders.
  • Lowering the likelihood of problems and enhancing overall health outcomes
sg-in-urinalysis

Conclusion:

Urinalysis is an essential aspect of preventative healthcare, especially in DOT physicals. It identifies critical circumstances early, protecting employee well-being and public safety. Compliance and understanding during medical tests are essential for successful urinalysis and general health management. Individuals who prioritize urinalysis can make proactive efforts to safeguard their health and safety while driving.

ANTITECK provide urine strip production line for urine dipstic strips manufacturing, contact us for more information via [email protected]

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