A urine test, or urinalysis, uses a sample of urine to diagnose diseases of the urinary system and other body systems. It is used to check for early signs of a disease or disorder, including some neurological conditions. Many neurological disorders may use urine tests as part of their diagnosis or monitoring. These include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
  

  

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Dystonias
• Multiple system atrophy
• Muscular dystrophy
• Myopathy
• Rett syndrome

Urine tests may also be used to rule out other causes of a patient’s symptoms. These tests may be recommended for patients suspected of having certain neurological conditions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome or periodic limb movement disorder.

Most urine tests require little preparation. However, it is important that patients clean areas near the urinary opening prior to testing because these areas host bacteria that can contaminate the urine sample, making it unusable for analysis.

Initial methods of urinalysis typically are performed in a physician’s office or laboratory and usually take just a few minutes to perform. After a sample of urine has been obtained, it is visually and chemically examined for abnormalities. If such abnormalities are present, the sample may undergo more rigorous testing such as microscopic examination or culture.