Medically reviewed by Dr. Farhana Mukhtar, M.B.B.S., M.Phil (Pb.), Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre. Updated September 2026.
Quick answer: A urine R/E, meaning Routine Examination, checks your urine in three ways: how it looks, what chemicals it contains, and what is visible under the microscope. It is used mainly to detect urinary tract infection, kidney problems and diabetes. No fasting is needed, but how you collect the sample changes the result.
Book a urine test: call 0300 0341944 or find your nearest collection centre.
What are the three parts of a urine test?
Physical examination looks at colour, clarity and concentration. Cloudy urine often suggests infection. Very dark urine usually means dehydration, but can point to liver problems.
Chemical examination uses a dipstick to detect protein, glucose, blood, ketones, nitrites, bilirubin and acidity.
Microscopic examination is where a technologist looks at the sample directly and counts what is there. This is the part that finds pus cells, red cells, crystals and bacteria, and it is the reason a proper laboratory report is more useful than a home dipstick.
What do the findings on your report mean?
| Finding | What it usually suggests |
|---|---|
| Pus cells above 5 per HPF | Urinary tract infection, the most common abnormal finding |
| Protein present | Possible kidney damage. Common in long standing diabetes and high blood pressure |
| Glucose present | Blood sugar high enough to spill into urine. Often the first clue of undiagnosed diabetes |
| Red blood cells | Stones, infection, injury, or inflammation of the kidney |
| Nitrites positive | Strongly suggests bacterial infection |
| Ketones present | Fasting, prolonged vomiting, or uncontrolled diabetes |
| Crystals | Can relate to stone formation, though small numbers are often harmless |
| Epithelial cells in large numbers | Usually means the sample was contaminated during collection |
How do you give a correct sample?
This section matters more than most patients realise. A poorly collected sample is the single most common reason a urine test has to be repeated.
- Use the first urine of the morning where possible. It is the most concentrated and shows abnormalities most clearly
- Wash your hands and clean the genital area before collecting
- Collect a midstream sample. Pass the first part of the urine into the toilet, then collect the middle portion in the container, then finish in the toilet. The first part carries skin bacteria that will contaminate the result
- Do not touch the inside of the container or its lid
- Deliver it to the laboratory within one to two hours, or refrigerate it. Urine left at room temperature grows bacteria and produces falsely abnormal results
- Women should avoid testing during menstruation where possible, since blood in the sample makes interpretation difficult
Urine R/E or urine culture, which do you need?
These are different tests and are often confused.
A urine R/E tells you whether infection is likely, by finding pus cells and nitrites. It is fast, usually reported the same day.
A urine culture with sensitivity grows the bacteria, identifies exactly which organism is causing the infection, and tests which antibiotics will kill it. It takes 24 to 48 hours because bacteria need time to grow.
For a straightforward first infection, an R/E often guides treatment adequately. A culture becomes important when infections keep returning, when a course of antibiotics has not worked, in pregnancy, in children, and in patients with diabetes or kidney disease. Given rising antibiotic resistance in Pakistan, culture and sensitivity is frequently the more responsible choice.
Who should have a urine test?
- Burning during urination, urgency, or passing urine more often than usual
- Lower abdominal or back pain with fever
- Cloudy, strong smelling or blood stained urine
- Everyone with diabetes, at least annually, to check for early kidney damage
- During pregnancy, as part of routine antenatal checks
- Children with unexplained fever, where urine infection is easily missed
- Alongside a kidney function test when kidney disease is suspected
- As part of a general health check
Does a urine test need fasting?
No. You can eat and drink normally. In fact you should stay normally hydrated, though avoid drinking large amounts of water immediately beforehand, since very dilute urine can mask abnormalities.
Tell the laboratory if you are taking antibiotics, as they can suppress bacterial growth and produce a falsely reassuring result.
Urine testing at Al-Nasar Lab
Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre has provided laboratory testing in Lahore since 1996 and holds ISO 15189:2022 accreditation from the Pakistan National Accreditation Council. Urine R/E, urine culture and sensitivity, and 24 hour urine collections are all available, with same day digital reports for routine examination and home sample collection across Lahore.
Browse our full test list, find your nearest collection centre, or contact us to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a high pus cell count mean?
More than about 5 pus cells per high power field usually indicates a urinary tract infection. Your doctor interprets it alongside your symptoms and other findings.
Do I need to fast for a urine test?
No. Fasting is not required. A first morning sample is preferred because it is most concentrated.
Why does my report say the sample was contaminated?
Usually because a midstream sample was not collected, or the area was not cleaned first. Large numbers of epithelial cells are the usual clue, and the test needs repeating.
Can a urine test detect diabetes?
It can raise the suspicion. Glucose in urine suggests blood sugar is high, but diagnosis needs a blood test such as HbA1c or fasting glucose.
How long does a urine culture take?
Typically 24 to 48 hours, because the bacteria must grow before they can be identified and tested against antibiotics. Routine urine examination is usually reported the same day.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please discuss your results with a qualified doctor.
