How many red blood cells in a urine test indicate a serious condition?
Disease description:
Recently, after a urine test, my doctor told me that my red blood cell count was slightly elevated. I would like to ask, how high is considered serious in terms of red blood cells in a urine test?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Cao Zhiqiang
In general, when the number of red blood cells in the urine exceeds 50 per HPF, it is considered a severe condition.
The normal range for red blood cells in urine is 0 to 3 per HPF. When the count of red blood cells in the urine ranges from 3 to 10 per HPF, it may be due to temporary changes caused by factors such as exercise, sexual activity, or menstruation. It also could be a sign of early glomerular disease, urinary tract infection, or other conditions, and requires comprehensive evaluation based on clinical symptoms and other test results.
When the count of red blood cells in the urine ranges between 10 and 50 per HPF, it indicates there may be a significant urinary tract issue, such as nephritis, kidney stones, pyelonephritis, or renal vascular disease, and further investigation is needed to determine the exact cause.
When the number of red blood cells in the urine exceeds 50 per HPF, it is referred to as gross hematuria. At this point, the urine color changes明显, appearing red or tea-colored, indicating a serious bleeding condition. It is commonly seen in severe diseases such as acute nephritis, renal tuberculosis, kidney tumors, or urethral injury, and prompt medical attention is required.
