Kidney Stone Analysis

Test Overview

Kidney stone analysis is a test done on a kidney stone to see what chemicals are in it. The test is done on a kidney stone that has been passed in the urine or removed from the urinary tract during surgery. Chemical analysis of a kidney stone shows the type of stone which can guide treatment and give information that may prevent more stones from forming. People who have had a kidney stone have a chance of having another one, so prevention measures are important.

A kidney stone (renal calculus) forms in the kidney from substances that do not pass out of the body in the urine. See an illustration of a kidney stone.

A kidney stone can be as small as a grain of sand to as big as 2.5 cm (1 in.) or larger. Sometimes a stone may leave the kidney and move down a ureter into the bladder. From the bladder, the stone passes through the urethra and out of the body in urine. See an illustration of the urinary tract. Passing a kidney stone through a ureter or the urethra may be painless or it may cause severe pain. A kidney stone may cause other symptoms, such as blood in the urine (hematuria), pain when urinating, or a severe need to urinate.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: January 10, 2007
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Philip Belitsky, MD, FRCSC - Urology
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