What does "urine occult blood" mean?
Apr 24, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Xinju
Introduction
Urine occult blood ± typically indicates the presence of blood in the urine, which generally cannot be observed with the naked eye. When occult blood is detected, it is advisable to visit a hospital for examination and receive appropriate treatment based on symptoms. Urine occult blood is one of the parameters measured in routine urinalysis. However, isolated occult blood alone is usually not sufficient for diagnosis, and further detailed evaluations are needed to determine the underlying cause.
Microscopic hematuria (±) usually refers to the presence of blood in the urine that generally cannot be observed with the naked eye. When microscopic hematuria occurs, it is advisable to visit a hospital for examination and receive appropriate treatment based on symptoms. Specific analysis is as follows:
Microscopic hematuria is an indicator in routine urinalysis. The symbol "±" indicates either a borderline negative or positive result. A normal result is typically denoted by "-", whereas a "+" indicates an increased amount of blood in the urine.
The occurrence of microscopic hematuria is generally categorized into physiological and pathological causes. For example, if a woman undergoes urinalysis during her menstrual period, menstrual blood may mix with the urine sample, leading to a false-positive result; this condition usually does not require treatment. However, diseases such as nephritis or kidney stones can damage capillaries, allowing blood to enter the urine and cause hematuria. If caused by nephritis, medications such as furosemide tablets, hydrochlorothiazide tablets, or irbesartan tablets may be prescribed under medical supervision. If due to kidney stones, lithotripsy surgery may be required.
In addition, isolated microscopic hematuria alone is generally not sufficient for diagnosis; further detailed examinations are necessary to determine the underlying cause.
