Understand common urine test findings including WBC, RBC, protein, glucose and ketones. This educational tool does not diagnose urinary conditions.
Educational information about common urinalysis findings and what they may mean.
Urinalysis is a commonly performed test that examines urine chemically and microscopically. It can provide information about the urinary tract, kidneys and certain metabolic conditions. A urinalysis typically includes a chemical dipstick analysis and a microscopic examination of the urine sample.
White blood cells (also called pus cells or leukocytes) may increase during urinary infection or inflammation. A small number may occasionally be present normally. Higher counts, particularly above 10 per high power field, may suggest significant inflammation or infection in the urinary tract. The significance of white blood cells depends on the clinical context and symptoms.
Small amounts of protein may occur temporarily with fever, exercise, dehydration or urinary infection. Persistent protein in urine, particularly in larger amounts, may require medical review as it can sometimes indicate kidney conditions. Trace or mild amounts are often not significant when found once, but should be rechecked if they persist.
Blood may occur with infection, urinary stones, inflammation, contamination or other urinary tract conditions. Small numbers of red blood cells may sometimes be found without obvious cause. Visible blood in urine (making it red, pink, orange or cola-colored) or persistent microscopic blood should be medically assessed. Sample contamination during collection can also introduce blood into a sample.
Some crystals may occur normally in urine depending on diet, urine concentration and pH. Certain crystal types may be associated with urinary stone formation, dehydration or metabolic conditions. The type and quantity of crystals, along with clinical symptoms such as flank pain, help determine their significance. Not all crystals indicate a problem.
Improper sample collection may introduce skin cells, bacteria or other material into the sample. Contamination can make a urine report appear abnormal when the urinary tract is actually normal. Many epithelial cells alongside few white blood cells and few bacteria often suggests contamination. A repeat clean-catch midstream urine sample can help improve accuracy if contamination is suspected.
No. It provides educational interpretation only. Diagnosing a urinary tract infection requires clinical assessment, symptom evaluation and, in many cases, urine culture. This tool is designed to help you understand common findings on a urine report, not to provide a medical diagnosis.
It may indicate significant urinary inflammation or infection, especially with symptoms. A white blood cell count above 10 per high power field (HPF) is generally considered elevated. However, the significance depends on the clinical context, associated findings and whether the sample was properly collected.
No. Blood may occur with infection, contamination, inflammation and other urinary conditions. While urinary stones can cause blood in urine, particularly with flank pain, there are many other possible causes. Persistent or visible blood in urine should always be medically assessed to determine the cause.
Many epithelial cells may suggest contamination. When a urine sample contains many epithelial cells, particularly squamous epithelial cells, it often means the sample may have been contaminated with cells from the skin or genital area during collection. In such cases, the other findings on the report may not accurately reflect what is happening inside the urinary tract.
Some abnormalities may be temporary, but persistent findings should be medically assessed. A single mildly abnormal result in someone with no symptoms may be insignificant or due to sample contamination. However, if abnormalities are noted on repeat testing or are more significant, medical review is advisable even without symptoms.
Dr. Seneth Gajasinghe
MBBS (Col), MD (Col)
SLMC No. 27329
Sineth Hospitals
Rattanapitiya, Boralasgamuwa, Sri Lanka
0 727 725 725 | info@sinethhospitals.com