Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNormal and High LevelsInterpretationCausesDiagnosis and Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Normal and High Levels
Interpretation
Causes
Diagnosis and Treatment
Aurinalysis(urine test) can detectleukocytes(white blood cells) in the urine. These cells can be counted with microscopic examination. They can also be detected with a urine dipstick test indicating whether leukocyteesterase(an enzyme in certain white blood cells) is in the sample.
There should be no or very few white blood cells in urine. A leukocyte esterase dipstick test is considered normal when negative, meaning leukocyte esterase is not detected. With microscopic testing, a normal range is 0 to 5 per high-powered field (hpf).
White blood cells in urine are a sign of inflammation and may mean there is aninfection in the kidneysor urinary tract (bladder or urethra).
Halfpoint Images / Getty Images
Leukocyte Levels in Urine Chart
Urine tests (urinalysis) can detect and measure substances such as blood, cells (like white blood cells), sugar, bacteria, electrolytes, and proteins.
Urine is analyzed in a number of ways, including:
A leukocyte esterase test gives positive results (the substance is present) or negative results (the substance was undetected). If the test is positive, the sample may be analyzed using a microscope to look for white blood cells and other indications of infection.
A Note About Results ConsistenciesRanges for normal and abnormal levels can vary among laboratories, with differences in measurements or test samples used. Talk with a healthcare provider about what your results mean.
A Note About Results Consistencies
Ranges for normal and abnormal levels can vary among laboratories, with differences in measurements or test samples used. Talk with a healthcare provider about what your results mean.
Normal Range
White blood cellsare not typically present in urine.Having no or very few white blood cells is considered a normal result.
Some measures indicate a normal white blood cell count for urine is 0–5 per hpf (examined under a microscope).Men typically have a count of less than 2 per hpf. Women typically have less than 5 per hpf.
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them. Your healthcare provider will interpret lab results based on your medical history and anatomy.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them. Your healthcare provider will interpret lab results based on your medical history and anatomy.
High Range
The range can vary, but any of the following criteria has definedpyuria:
Sterile pyuria (persistent finding of white blood cells in the urine, but without the presence ofbacteria) may be measured as more than 5 to 8 leukocytes per hpf, with the absence of infection.
Another measure of sterile pyuria is 20 leukocytes per microliter, with no bacteria.
How to Do a Clean Catch Urine Sample
You will usually be asked to do what’s referred to as a clean-catch midstream urine sample, which helps prevent germs from the genitals from getting into the sample.
Your healthcare provider typically gives you a kit that includes a cleansing wipe, a container for the urine, and instructions for you to follow.
What Normal Leukocytes in Urine Says About Health
Leukocyte levels in urine are just one measure your healthcare provider uses to determine your health. Your healthcare provider will consider these results and other factors such as medical history, overall health, and symptoms you are experiencing.
Certain factors can interfere with a leukocyte esterase test.
A false-positive result—when the test incorrectly indicates a condition is present—may happen because of:
A false-negative result—when a test incorrectly indicates the substance is not present—may happen because of:
Pyuria can be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI), but it is possible to have a UTI without pyuria.
A 2016 study of 1,181 children diagnosed with UTI found that pyuria was present in 87% of the children and absent in 13%. Compared with children withEscherichia coli(E. coli, a common bacterial cause of UTIs), pyuria was found to be less likely in children with certainspecies of bacteria, such as:
Causes of High Leukocytes in Urine
Leukocytes in Urine During Pregnancy
UTIs are common in pregnancy. UTIs may be symptomatic (such as a sense of urgency, painful urination, frequent urination with small volumes, straining, or a residual feeling of incomplete emptying) or asymptomatic (without symptoms).
UTIs may increase the risk of complications such as:
If untreated, a UTI could develop into pyelonephritis (akidney infection), which has been associated with complications such as:
Pregnant person:
Fetus/infant:
Routine screening for UTIs is common with prenatal care, with or without symptoms. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have symptoms of a UTI or have any concerns.
After Urine Test, What Happens Next With High Leukocytes
High leukocytes in urine are not enough on their own to make a diagnosis. Your healthcare provider will talk to you about your symptoms and your health history and may choose to run further tests.
Your healthcare provider may also do a physical examination, which may include adigital rectal examto check for a swollen or enlarged prostate that could be blocking the bladder.
If your healthcare providerdiagnoses you with a UTI, they will likelyprescribe antibioticsto clear the infection and prevent it from progressing to a kidney infection. The exact treatment will depend on the cause of the UTI and your personal health considerations.
It is important to take all of your antibiotics as directed and follow your healthcare provider’s advice to ensurethe infection is fully treated.
Depending on your symptoms and other factors, your healthcare provider may want torun other testssuch as:
Pain Management Techniques While Seeking Treatment
To helpease symptoms of a UTIwhile treating the infection, you can try to do the following:
Summary
Leukocytes are white blood cells. Leukocytes may be detected in urine using a leukocyte esterase test or with an examination under a microscope. White blood cells are not normally found in urine, so a normal level is zero or very few (typically 0–5 per hpf).
If leukocytes are detected in your urine, your healthcare provider may make a diagnosis based on this result, along with other factors such as your symptoms and an examination. If needed, more tests may also be ordered. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have symptoms of a UTI or other concerns.
24 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merck Manual.Urinalysis and urine culture.Liebenstein T.Urinalysis interpretation. University of Wisconsin.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blood and urine tests.Canadian Cancer Society.Urinalysis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Urinalysis.St. Luke’s Hospital.Leukocyte esterase urine test.MyHealth Alberta.Urine test: understanding the test.HealthLink BC.Urine test.Wise GJ, Schlegel PN.Sterile pyuria. Longo DL, ed.N Engl J Med. 2015;372(11):1048-1054. doi:10.1056/nejmra1410052Glen P, Prashar A, Hawary A.Sterile pyuria: a practical management guide.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(644):e225-e227. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X684217Goonewardene S, Persad R.Sterile pyuria: a forgotten entity.Therapeutic Advances in Urology. 2015;7(5):295-298. doi:10.1177/1756287215592570Mount Sinai.Leukocyte esterase urine test.MedlinePlus.Blood in urine.Shaikh N, Shope TR, Hoberman A, et al.Association between uropathogen and pyuria.Pediatrics. 2016;138(1):e20160087. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-0087Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection basics.National Health Service.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Urologic diseases.Watanabe T.Pyuria in patients with Kawasaki disease.World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics. 2015;4(2):25-29. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v4.i2.25Department for Health and Wellbeing, Government of South Australia.Urinary tract infection in pregnancy.University of California Health.What do your lab test results mean?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of kidney infection (pyelonephritis).National Kidney Foundation.Urinalysis and kidney disease. What you need to know.Merck Manual.Imaging tests of the urinary tract.MedlinePlus.Phenazopyridine.
24 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merck Manual.Urinalysis and urine culture.Liebenstein T.Urinalysis interpretation. University of Wisconsin.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blood and urine tests.Canadian Cancer Society.Urinalysis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Urinalysis.St. Luke’s Hospital.Leukocyte esterase urine test.MyHealth Alberta.Urine test: understanding the test.HealthLink BC.Urine test.Wise GJ, Schlegel PN.Sterile pyuria. Longo DL, ed.N Engl J Med. 2015;372(11):1048-1054. doi:10.1056/nejmra1410052Glen P, Prashar A, Hawary A.Sterile pyuria: a practical management guide.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(644):e225-e227. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X684217Goonewardene S, Persad R.Sterile pyuria: a forgotten entity.Therapeutic Advances in Urology. 2015;7(5):295-298. doi:10.1177/1756287215592570Mount Sinai.Leukocyte esterase urine test.MedlinePlus.Blood in urine.Shaikh N, Shope TR, Hoberman A, et al.Association between uropathogen and pyuria.Pediatrics. 2016;138(1):e20160087. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-0087Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection basics.National Health Service.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Urologic diseases.Watanabe T.Pyuria in patients with Kawasaki disease.World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics. 2015;4(2):25-29. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v4.i2.25Department for Health and Wellbeing, Government of South Australia.Urinary tract infection in pregnancy.University of California Health.What do your lab test results mean?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of kidney infection (pyelonephritis).National Kidney Foundation.Urinalysis and kidney disease. What you need to know.Merck Manual.Imaging tests of the urinary tract.MedlinePlus.Phenazopyridine.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Merck Manual.Urinalysis and urine culture.Liebenstein T.Urinalysis interpretation. University of Wisconsin.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blood and urine tests.Canadian Cancer Society.Urinalysis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Urinalysis.St. Luke’s Hospital.Leukocyte esterase urine test.MyHealth Alberta.Urine test: understanding the test.HealthLink BC.Urine test.Wise GJ, Schlegel PN.Sterile pyuria. Longo DL, ed.N Engl J Med. 2015;372(11):1048-1054. doi:10.1056/nejmra1410052Glen P, Prashar A, Hawary A.Sterile pyuria: a practical management guide.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(644):e225-e227. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X684217Goonewardene S, Persad R.Sterile pyuria: a forgotten entity.Therapeutic Advances in Urology. 2015;7(5):295-298. doi:10.1177/1756287215592570Mount Sinai.Leukocyte esterase urine test.MedlinePlus.Blood in urine.Shaikh N, Shope TR, Hoberman A, et al.Association between uropathogen and pyuria.Pediatrics. 2016;138(1):e20160087. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-0087Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection basics.National Health Service.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Urologic diseases.Watanabe T.Pyuria in patients with Kawasaki disease.World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics. 2015;4(2):25-29. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v4.i2.25Department for Health and Wellbeing, Government of South Australia.Urinary tract infection in pregnancy.University of California Health.What do your lab test results mean?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of kidney infection (pyelonephritis).National Kidney Foundation.Urinalysis and kidney disease. What you need to know.Merck Manual.Imaging tests of the urinary tract.MedlinePlus.Phenazopyridine.
Merck Manual.Urinalysis and urine culture.
Liebenstein T.Urinalysis interpretation. University of Wisconsin.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blood and urine tests.
Canadian Cancer Society.Urinalysis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Urinalysis.
St. Luke’s Hospital.Leukocyte esterase urine test.
MyHealth Alberta.Urine test: understanding the test.
HealthLink BC.Urine test.
Wise GJ, Schlegel PN.Sterile pyuria. Longo DL, ed.N Engl J Med. 2015;372(11):1048-1054. doi:10.1056/nejmra1410052
Glen P, Prashar A, Hawary A.Sterile pyuria: a practical management guide.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(644):e225-e227. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X684217
Goonewardene S, Persad R.Sterile pyuria: a forgotten entity.Therapeutic Advances in Urology. 2015;7(5):295-298. doi:10.1177/1756287215592570
Mount Sinai.Leukocyte esterase urine test.
MedlinePlus.Blood in urine.
Shaikh N, Shope TR, Hoberman A, et al.Association between uropathogen and pyuria.Pediatrics. 2016;138(1):e20160087. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-0087
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection basics.
National Health Service.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Urologic diseases.
Watanabe T.Pyuria in patients with Kawasaki disease.World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics. 2015;4(2):25-29. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v4.i2.25
Department for Health and Wellbeing, Government of South Australia.Urinary tract infection in pregnancy.
University of California Health.What do your lab test results mean?
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of kidney infection (pyelonephritis).
National Kidney Foundation.Urinalysis and kidney disease. What you need to know.
Merck Manual.Imaging tests of the urinary tract.
MedlinePlus.Phenazopyridine.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
