The first step in most urinalysis procedures is to visually inspect the urine, checking for cloudiness in the urine which may indicate an abnormally large amount of proteins or other cellular material in the urine. The color of the urine is also examined, since color can indicate certain conditions; for example, a red or reddish brown cast in a urine sample is often a sign of hemoglobin or myglobin in the urine (though it can also be caused by some drugs, food coloring additives or even eating fresh beets). Urine analysis (or urinalysis, as it is commonly known) refers to a wide range of different tests which are employed in both human and veterinary medicine for a variety of screening and diagnostic applications. There are even forms of urinalysis testing systems which are available to the consumer over the counter (many home pregnancy tests, for example).

Whether to establish a diagnosis on the basis of the presence of microbes or the telltale signs of microbial activity in the urine, to measure the content of specific compounds or metabolites in the urine such as in drug testing applications or any of the numerous other applications, urine analysis is often an important part of health maintenance and courses of therapeutic treatment.