When it arrives, your sample will be analysed by its appearance (colour, cloudiness, smell), another dipstick check carried out and finally, macroscopic analysis.

Normal urine is usually a light yellow in colour and clear without any cloudiness. Any change in this can show:

• a possible infection (cloudy urine)
• dehydration (dark urine colour)
• red blood in the urine, also referred to as hemaeturia (for women this can be due to menstrual blood)
• liver disease (urine can look the colour of tea)
• breakdown of muscle (orange or tea coloured urine)
• Certain medications, foods and vitamins (Vitamin D) can also change the colour. Very foamy urine may represent large amounts of protein in the urine (proteinuria)