What does abnormal urine results mean?
Urine is a generally thought of as a sterile body fluid, therefore, evidence of white blood cells or bacteria in the urine is considered abnormal and may suggest a urinary tract infection such as, bladder infection (cystitis), infection of kidney (pyelonephritis). What does it mean if your White Blood Cells (WBC), Urine result is too high?
What causes white blood cells in urine but no infection?
These include the following:
- Holding your urine. If you do not urinate frequently, this can cause the bladder to stretch and weaken so that white blood cells leak into the urine. ...
- Obstruction of the urinary tract. ...
- Pregnancy. ...
- Sexual intercourse. ...
- Excessive amount of exercise. ...
- Blood disorders. ...
- Cancers. ...
What is the normal range of leukocyte esterase in urine?
What types of diagnosis can be found by checking for Leukocyte Esterase?
- Above all, it is to look for signs of white blood cells which will prove infection or inflammation. ...
- It could be used for acute febrile prostatitis and cystitis in women (3)
- Studies have tried to prove its ability to check for chlamydia and shown that it is not helpful (1)
What is a high WBC count in urine?
When this test is positive and/or the WBC count in urine is high, it may indicate that there is inflammation in the urinary tract or kidneys. The most common cause for WBCs in urine (leukocyturia) is a bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI), such as a bladder or kidney infection. Click to see full answer.
Is WBC in urine serious?
Most causes of blood in your urine are not serious, But sometimes red or white blood cells in your urine can mean that you have a medical condition that needs treatment, such as a kidney disease, urinary tract infection, or liver disease.
What infections cause high WBC in urine?
Infection A urinary tract infection (or UTI) is the most commonly occurring reason for increased levels of leukocytes in the urine. High levels indicate that the immune system is trying to fight off a fungal, bacterial or parasitic infection by fungus.
What causes white blood cells in urine but no infection?
The following can also cause raised levels of leukocytes in the urine: some cancers, such as prostate, bladder, or kidney cancer. blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia. some pain relieving medicines.
What is considered a high WBC in urine?
You're bound to have a few WBCs in your urine even when you're healthy, but if a urine test identifies levels above 5 wbc/hpf, it's likely you have an infection. If bacteria are detected, your doctor may perform a urine culture to diagnose the type of bacterial infection you have.
My gfr is 125 and have trace protein in urine also trace of leucocyte esterase, is there is something to worry about ?
Needs more testing: needs to have a quantification of the total protein in 24 hours urine in your case. This could be done by a urine sample and check for protein/creatin... Read More
My dip stick urine test showed trace of blood. it was sent to lab and it came back flagged bacteria (few), blood (small), mucous (moderate), leukocytes esterase neg, nitrate neg, ph 5, protein neg, wbcs, urobilinogen all normal. should i be worried?
Unfortunately your urine studies are non-diagnostic, suggesting blood in urine or hematuria, otherwise relatively common and seen in a variety of cond... Read More
What are leukocytes?
White blood cells (WBCs) are also called as leukocytes. They protect the body from infections by fighting foreign invaders such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Phagocytes and lymphocytes are forms of white blood cells (WBCs).
What does a high level of leukocyte in urine mean?
Since leukocytes help fight off diseases and infections, high levels of leukocytes in urine may indicate an infection or inflammation in the bladder or kidney. It means the body is trying to fight off an infection in the urinary tract. It could also indicate damage to the ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Causes of leukocyte in urine
During pregnancy, leukocyte counts can suddenly shoot up in urine. One reason may be due to a contamination in the vagina. Other reasons may be an increased level of protein excreted in the urine and bladder infection. It is advisable to consult a gynecologist, if leukocytes are frequently reported in a routine urinalysis.
Diagnosing leukocytes in urine
A urine sample is usually tested for white blood cells or leukocytes, red blood cells (RBCs), bacteria, and other substances. When the urine is positive for bacteria, a urine culture is performed to identify the type of bacterial infection.
Leukocytes and nitrite
Dipsticks can pick up certain substances such as leukocyte esterase and nitrite in the urine. Both of these substances are indicators of infection. If the urine is tested positive for nitrite, it indicates a bacterial infection, although it does not pick up all the bacteria present in the urine.
Leukocyte in urine without nitrite
If the leukocyte esterase test is positive and nitrite is negative, it can still mean an infection. Such cases can be attributed to poor hygiene or incorrect technique used while collecting the urine sample. It can lead to false results such as the presence of bacteria in the urine without them being actually present in the urinary tract.
Treatment
The treatment of leukocytes in urine is completely based on its cause:
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Your urinary tract includes your kidneys, bladder, and ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder). An infection in your urinary tract is the most likely cause of leukocytes in your urine. Any time you have an infection, your immune system ramps up production of these cells to fight off the bacteria.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are crystals that form when calcium and other minerals build up in your urine. They can be as small as a pea or as big as a golf ball. Larger kidney stones can block the flow of urine.
Inflammation
Inflammation in your body triggers the release of leukocytes. That inflammation can come from an injury, infection, or disease.
