What is urine typically strained to check for?

Urine is typically strained primarily to check for stones. This process is important because urinary stones, or calculi, can be small and may not always be visible. Straining urine allows for the collection of any solid material that may pass through the urinary tract, enabling healthcare providers to identify and analyze any stones that individuals may have excreted. This analysis can help determine the composition of the stones, which can be crucial for guiding treatment options and dietary recommendations.

While checking for blood, protein, or glucose in urine can be conducted through other means such as dipstick tests or lab analysis, straining specifically focuses on capturing any physical remnants of stones that might be present. Thus, the emphasis on straining relates directly to assessing the presence of urinary stones, which is central to understanding a patient’s renal health and the prevention of future occurrences.