The urinalysis--inexpensive and informative.

The urinalysis dates back 6000 years. Information has evolved from tasting it for sugar to computer assisted assessment for the presence of cells and casts. The urine gives valuable information about kidney function in general and the glomeruli in particular. Findings can lead to a diagnosis of various medical conditions, most notable being diabetes mellitus. Proteinuria has many implications, including the presence of systemic disease and the progression of an underlying renal condition.