How many red blood cells in a urine test indicate a serious condition?
Disease description:
I just had a urinalysis at the hospital, and they checked for red blood cells. I would like to ask, how many red blood cells in the urine is considered serious?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Cao Zhiqiang
In general, the presence of more than 3 red blood cells per high-power field (HPF) may suggest a lesion in the urinary system, such as urethritis, nephritis, or calculi. If the number of red blood cells increases significantly, for example, exceeding 20/HPF, it may indicate a more serious condition, and further examinations are required to determine the underlying cause.
1. Trace or occult hematuria: A small number of red blood cells are detected during urinalysis, usually defined as fewer than 3 to 5 red blood cells per high-power field. Further investigation is needed to identify the cause, although it is not considered an immediately serious symptom.
2. Microscopic hematuria: When the red blood cell count reaches more than 3 per high-power field, it is diagnosed as microscopic hematuria. This may be caused by glomerular disease, urinary tract infection, calculi, tumors, or other kidney diseases.
3. Gross hematuria: When the urine color changes visibly, appearing red or tea-colored, it is referred to as gross hematuria. The number of red blood cells in the urine far exceeds the normal range and may indicate serious conditions such as acute hemorrhage, tumors, or nephritis, requiring prompt medical attention.
