What does a trace blood (1+) result mean, and is it serious?

Mar 17, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, a occult blood result of 1+ refers to a positive outcome in a medical test, indicating the presence of red blood cells or their breakdown products in the tested sample. A 1+ occult blood result caused by physiological factors is generally not serious, whereas a result caused by pathological factors may be more severe.

Generally speaking, a "1+ occult blood" result refers to a positive outcome in a medical occult blood test, indicating the presence of red blood cells or their breakdown products in the tested sample. Occult blood of 1+ caused by physiological factors is usually not serious, whereas occult blood of 1+ caused by pathological factors may be more severe. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical consultation at a hospital and undergo standardized treatment under a physician's guidance. Detailed analysis is as follows:

If significant and intense physical activity has occurred within a short time, or if menstrual blood has contaminated the specimen during a urinary occult blood test for women during their menstrual period, it may lead to a urinary occult blood result of 1+. In these situations, occult blood of 1+ typically has no clinical significance and does not affect the patient's health, thus requiring no special treatment. The urinary occult blood phenomenon may resolve spontaneously after ceasing physical activity or once the menstrual period has passed.

Pathological factors such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, glomerulonephritis, and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis may all lead to a urinary occult blood result of 1+. These conditions require timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent further progression of the disease. Failure to treat promptly may result in discomfort symptoms such as high fever and back pain, and may even lead to more severe health complications.

The presence of occult blood of 1+ warrants attention but does not necessarily indicate a serious illness. The key is to seek timely medical evaluation and undergo further testing to identify the exact underlying cause and implement appropriate treatment measures. Additionally, in daily life, it is important to maintain good lifestyle and dietary habits to help prevent the occurrence of related diseases.

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