Urinalysis is a simple, inexpensive test that can help detect problems in many parts of your body, including your kidneys, urinary tract, heart and liver. A urinalysis can detect many diseases before symptoms occur. It is especially important for people who have increased risk for kidney disease to be tested for abnormal levels of protein in their urine. Persistent protein in the urine (two positive tests for protein over several weeks) is one of the earliest signs of chronic kidney disease.