What does a urine occult blood 1+ mean?
Sep 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Cao Zhiqiang
Introduction
In general, a positive urine occult blood result (1+) may be caused by intense physical exercise, menstrual contamination in women, urinary tract infections, urinary tract stones, chronic glomerulonephritis, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance. In daily life, it is important to maintain regular作息 (sleep patterns), avoid excessive fatigue, eat a light diet, and reduce intake of high-salt and high-oxalate foods.
Under normal circumstances, a urine occult blood result of 1+ may be caused by intense physical exercise, menstrual contamination in women, urinary tract infections, urinary tract stones, or chronic glomerulonephritis. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. After intense exercise: Prolonged high-intensity exercise may temporarily impair kidney filtration function, allowing a small number of red blood cells to enter the urine, resulting in a urine occult blood reading of 1+. Intense physical activity should be stopped immediately. The patient should rest for 1–2 days before rechecking urinalysis. During this period, drink plenty of warm water to promote metabolism.
2. Menstrual contamination in women: Menstrual blood may mix with the urine sample during menstruation, leading to a false positive result of urine occult blood 1+. Testing should be performed outside the menstrual period—ideally 3–5 days after menstruation ends. A clean midstream urine sample should be collected, and the external genitalia should be cleaned before collection to avoid sample contamination.
3. Urinary tract infection (UTI): Often caused by bacterial infections such as Escherichia coli, inflammation can irritate the urinary mucosa, causing congestion and bleeding, resulting in urine occult blood 1+. Symptoms often include frequent urination, urgency, and dysuria. Patients may take medications such as levofloxacin tablets, cefixime capsules, or nitrofurantoin enteric-coated tablets as directed by a physician.
4. Urinary tract stones: As stones move within the urinary tract, they may scratch the urinary mucosa, causing minor bleeding and leading to urine occult blood 1+. This may be accompanied by flank or abdominal pain and difficulty urinating. Smaller stones may be passed naturally by increasing fluid intake and engaging in appropriate physical activity. Medications such as lithotripsy granules, nephrolithiasis-clearing granules, or potassium citrate sustained-release tablets may also be used under medical supervision to aid stone passage.
5. Chronic glomerulonephritis: Damage to the glomerular filtration membrane allows red blood cells to leak into the urine, causing urine occult blood 1+. This may be accompanied by proteinuria and edema. Treatment may include medications such as valsartan capsules, benazepril hydrochloride tablets, or hydrochlorothiazide tablets, taken as prescribed by a doctor.
In daily life, it is important to maintain a regular作息 (routine), avoid excessive fatigue, eat a light diet, reduce intake of high-salt and high-oxalate foods, and develop the habit of drinking sufficient water—aiming for 1500–2000 mL per day—to help flush the urinary tract and reduce the risk of urinary diseases.
