Blood in Urine (Hematuria) Test
Reviewed
A urinalysis test checks a sample of your urine (pee) for blood cells and other substances. It can detect small amounts of blood that you may not be able to see (microscopic hematuria) or confirm visible blood (gross hematuria). The test is commonly used to check general health and to evaluate symptoms such as painful urination, frequent urination, back pain, or abdominal pain. Having blood in urine usually isn't serious, but it can sometimes be a sign of a condition that needs treatment, such as infection, kidney disease, or liver disease.
Preparation and collection
No special preparation is needed for this test. If your provider has ordered other urine or blood tests, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know. You may need to stop taking certain medicines before this test; tell your provider about everything you take, but do not stop any medicine unless your provider tells you to.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Certain medicines, intense exercise, sexual activity, or menstruation can cause blood in urine and may lead to a false positive
- Contamination from skin germs or menstrual blood can affect accuracy
- A single positive result does not diagnose a specific condition; further testing is usually needed to determine the cause
What to do next
If your test result shows blood in your urine, you may need more tests to find out why. Discuss all results with your healthcare provider to understand what they mean for your health.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Blood in Urine (Hematuria) Test