Kidney Stone Analysis
Reviewed
Kidney stone analysis is a laboratory test to find out what a kidney stone is made of. This helps your provider understand why the stone formed and what will help stop more stones from forming in the future. The four main types are calcium, uric acid, cystine, and struvite stones. The test itself has no known risk, but passing the stone may cause pain, infection, or blockage. Your results will guide your provider's recommendations for diet, lifestyle, and possibly medicines to prevent future stones.
Preparation and collection
You do not need any special preparations for a kidney stone analysis.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- The test identifies the chemical composition of the stone but does not diagnose all underlying causes; follow-up with your provider is needed to determine why the stone formed and how to prevent future stones.
- Passing a kidney stone may cause pain, a urinary tract infection, or a blocked urinary tract if the stone gets stuck.
- The test itself has no known risk, but the process of collecting the stone involves passing the stone, which can be uncomfortable.
What to do next
With the results, your provider will recommend steps and/or medicines to help prevent more stones. Most plans include drinking plenty of water and changing some foods you eat. Calcium stones are the most common type, but they are not caused by dairy products—in fact, dairy can help prevent them. Your provider can explain specific diet changes.