What is rbc for urine?
Blood in the urine means there are red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. Often, the urine looks normal to the naked eye. But when checked under a microscope, it contains a high number of red blood cells. In some cases, the urine is pink, red, or the color of tea, which you can see without a microscope.
Most of the causes of blood in the urine are not serious. For example, heavy exercise may cause blood in the urine, which often goes away in a day.
Other, more serious causes include:
Some medications cause blood in the urine. And many people have it without having any other related problems.
There not be enough blood in the urine to change the color, but in severe cases, the urine may look pink, red, or tea colored.
Your doctor will review your medical history and do a physical exam. Other tests may include:
If these tests aren’t clear you may need other tests, such as:
If you have blood in your urine that lasts more than a day, see a health care provider, especially if you have unexplained weight loss, discomfort with urination, frequent urination, or urgent urination.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the blood in the urine.
The presence of red blood cells (RBC) in the urine is usually associated with kidney problems. It may also be a result of very intense physical activity, although this is a rare finding, or it can happen with your period.
Also known as hematuria, it is usually first noted by changes to urine color. RBC in the urine will also turn the urine pink or red, or in some cased, more cloudy. Therefore, if you notice any changes to your urine color, you should see your doctor for assessment and treatment as necessary.
A very small amount of RBCs in the blood can be normal. The normal amount of red blood cells in the urine is up to 4 RBCs per high power field, although this reference value can vary depending on the lab.
The presence of red blood cells usually does not cause symptoms. It is usually only noted when the urine has a pink, red or cloudy appearance. Most times it is associated with kidney problems. Complete our online symptom checker to assess your risk for kidney problems.
The most common causes of RBCs in the urine are:
In women, it is possible notice the presence of blood in the urine during a period. For this reason, urine collection is not recommended during this time, as the urine will likely present with menstrual blood. However, if blood is noted in the urine outside of a normal period, women should still consult their gynecologist for more thorough testing.
Although RBCs in the urine are usually a result of kidney issues, it can also occur with excessive physical activity, which can lead to a bladder injury or dehydration. Nonetheless, RBCs in the urine from too much exercise is rare.
If you notice any changes to your urine, you should seek medical attention for further testing and treatment as indicated.
Read more about other causes of blood in the urine and what to do to treat it.
The presence of red blood cells in the urine is usually noted due to changes to urine color. Blood in the urine can make the urine more pink, red or dark in color, depending on the amount of RBCs present. RBCs can also be visualized through a microscope - this lab analysis looks for the quantity of intact red blood cells, as well as products of red blood cell breakdown, like hemoglobin.
RBCs in the urine can present with urinary casts, which are tubular structures formed by blood cells, as well as leukocytes and crystals. Learn more about what causes leukocytes in the urine.
Treatment of red blood cells should be oriented by a doctor, and will depend on the underlying cause. High red blood cell counts from infections can be treated with antibiotics to combat the infectious agent, which will eventually decrease the amount of RBC in the urine.
The RBC urine test measures the number of red blood cells in a urine sample. The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra. The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.
The RBC urine test measures the number of red blood cells in a urine sample.
Red blood cells in urine; Hematuria test; Urine - red blood cells
A random sample of urine is collected. Random means that the sample is collected at any time either at the lab or at home. If needed, the health care provider may ask you to collect your urine at home over 24 hours. Your provider will tell you how to do this.
A clean-catch urine sample is needed. The clean-catch method is used to prevent germs from the penis or vagina from getting into a urine sample. To collect your urine, the provider may give you a special clean-catch kit that contains a cleansing solution and sterile wipes. Follow instructions exactly so that the results are accurate.
No special preparation is necessary for this test.
The test involves only normal urination. There is no discomfort.
This test is done as part of a urinalysis test.
A normal result is 4 red blood cells per high power field (RBC/HPF) or less when the sample is examined under a microscope.
The example above is a common measurement for a result of this test. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test result.
A higher than normal number of RBCs in the urine may be due to:
There are no risks with this test.
Krishnan A, Levin A. Laboratory assessment of kidney disease: glomerular filtration rate, urinalysis, and proteinuria. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 23.
Blood in the urine means there are red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. Often the urine looks normal to the naked eye. But when checked under a microscope, it contains a high number of RBCs. In some cases, the urine is pink, red, or the color of tea. This can be seen without a microscope.
Many of the causes of blood in the urine are not serious. For example, heavy exercise may cause blood in the urine. This often goes away in a day.
Other more serious causes include:
There may not be enough blood in the urine to change the color. In severe cases, the urine may look pink, red, or tea colored.
Your healthcare provider will review your health history and do a physical exam. Other tests may include:
If these tests aren’t clear, you may need other tests, such as:
If you have blood in your urine that lasts more than a day, see a healthcare provider. This is especially necessary if you have unexplained weight loss, discomfort with urination, frequent urination, or urgent urination.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the blood in the urine.
