Diagnosis of Kidney stones involves physical examination, laboratory tests, analysis of medical history and image testing. If symptoms of kidney stones such as pain in the lower back and side area, nausea, blood in the urine, pain while urinating etc occur, one must visit a urologist immediately to initiate the diagnosis of kidney stones.

Diagnosis of kidney stones would commence with a study of your medical history. Your doctor would like to analyze whether you or anyone in your immediate family has ever suffered from kidney stones. If yes, then what were the relief and preventive measures, adopted to terminate the stones, what is the composition of the stones to detect the cause behind stone formation? This goes a long way in assisting with choosing the method of treatment best suited to the patient in question.

The second step of diagnosing kidney stones incorporates a physical examination. While evaluating the present symptoms the urologist may try tapping on the kidney area. If the pain sears and becomes unbearable, it is a cause for concern. In addition, a physical examination may get difficult to conduct if the patient is restless and uncomfortable. If the results of a physical reveal high body temperature, it is an indication of urinary tract infection that calls for administration of antibiotics.

The further diagnosis of kidney stones must be carried forth as mentioned below-

Firstly establish the presence or absence of kidney stones

Start pain management measures to relieve the patient

Determine the location of the kidney stone, if present

Determine the composition of the kidney stone

Conduct an analysis of any stones from a previous attack

Three main laboratory tests that are a part of thorough diagnosis of kidney stones include:

Imaging Tests- Imaging, tests used to diagnose kidney stones include ultrasound, intravenous pyelogram (IVP), retrograde pyelogram, and computerized tomography (CT) scan.

Blood Tests- Blood tests may help determine levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, phosphate, and uric acid for patients with known or suspected kidney stones.

Urine Tests- Urine samples determine certain important factors such as its acidity, the presence of red or white blood cells, whether infection is present, any crystals, and elevated or decreased components that inhibit or promote stone formation.

All the above are various diagnostic measures to be adopted to detect the presence of kidney stones.