Should show:
It is generally accepted that a RC count of 25 or less, or WC value of 5 or less, is not significant.
In other words, all humans have a small number of red and white blood cells in the urine. This is not surprising as 180L of blood are filtered by the kidneys daily.
Most stays in the blood as they cells are too large to pass through the 1 million tiny filters (called glomeruli) in each kidney.
10% of the normal population have ‘microhaematruria’ on a urinary dipstick. Most are asymptomatic, and do not have a disease.
Why? The dipstick is notoriously over-sensitive for blood – i.e. many are false positives.
So. If your doctor discovers blood on a dipstick (and you have never seen blood), you should ask for an MSU. It is likely to be normal, in terms of the number of red cells in the urine.
If so, it then needs no further investigation. And you do not need to be referred to a kidney specialist (either nephrologist or urologist).
Life Expectancy in Stage 5 CKD (Kidney Failure) Medically reviewed by Dr Andrew Stein, Consultant Nephrologist: Last updated April 2026 1. Life Expectancy Without Treatment If a patient chooses suppor...
Functions of the Kidneys 6: Vitamin D Activation What do the kidneys have to do with vitamin D? Many people don’t realise that one of the kidney’s key roles is to activate vitamin D, which...
What is Normal Human Urine Made Of? Human urine is 95% water – with the remaining 5% consisting of waste products, electrolytes (minerals), and other compounds. Key components include urea, uric...
What Causes a High Blood Potassium Level? Potassium is a powerhouse mineral and electrolyte that is essential for every cell in your body. While sodium primarily manages fluid outside your cells, pota...
