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Urine Normal Values, and Their Significance

April 4, 2022Lab TestsUrine Analysis

Urine Normal Values

Urine normal values are:

Urine substances to be checked Normal values Collection timings Significance
Physical characteristics  
  • pH
  1. 4.7 to 7.7
  2. Average = acidic 6.0
 A random and fresh sample
  1. Urine pH never reaches 9
  2. In the case of pH 9, test the fresh sample
  • Color
 Variable, pale-yellow to dark amber A random sample Red color urine, check for hemoglobin
  • Odor
 Faint aromatic A random sample Urine from a diabetic patient has a fruity (acetone) odor.
  • Volume
  1. Normal range = 1200 to 2000 mL
  2. Average = 1400 mL
  3. Extreme range = 600 to 3600 mL
  1. A random sample
  2. 24 hours urine sample
  1. Polyuria increased urine output
  2. Polyuria with normal BUN and creatinine.
  3. Oliguria <200 mL in adult
  • Specific gravity
  1. 1.008 to 1.030
  2. Average = 1.018
  3. 1.012 to 1.025
  4. Concentrated urine = 1.025 to 1.030+
  5. Dilute urine =1.001 to 1.010
  6. Infant <2 years = 1.001 to 1.018
  1. A Random sample
  2. 24 hours urine sample
  • Specific gravity is the measurement of the kidneys’ ability to concentrate urine.
  • Blood
  1. Negative
  • A random sample
  • It is seen in various conditions of the urinary tract
Chemical characteristics  
  • Glucose
  1. Quantitative = nil
  2. 1 to 15 mg (60 to 830 µmol/L)
  3. <0.5 g/day (<2.8 mmol/day)
  1. A random sample
  2. 24 hours urine sample
  3. 24 hours urine sample
  1. Urine glucose >1000mg/dL (>55 mmol/L)
  2. Test blood glucose
  3. Inform the physician
  • Ketones
  • Negative
  • A random sample
  1. Ketonuria indicates diabetic crises
  2. It may be seen in starvation
  • Albumin
  1. Adult male = 10 to 140 mg/L (1 to 14 mg/dL)
  2. Adult female = 30 to 100 mg/L (3 to 10 mg/dL)
  3. Child <10 years = 10 to 100 mg/L (1 to 10 mg/dL)
  1. 24 hours urine sample
  2. 24 hours urine sample
  3. 24 hours urine sample
  1. Adult = Proteinuria >2000 mg/24 hours.
  2. Child = ≥40 mg/24 hours
  3. indicate glomerular disease
  • Microalbumin
  1. <30 mg/day
  2. <20 mg/L
  1. 24 hours urine sample
  2. 10 hours of urine collection
  • Indicate diabetic nephropathy
  • Protein
  1. Qualitative =nil
  2. Quantitative = 0 to 0.1 g/24 hours
  • 24 hours urine sample
  • Indicate renal disease
  • Bicarbonate
  • Nil
  • HCO3 are estimated in acid-base balance
  • Chloride (as NaCl)
  1. 5 to 20 g (85 to 340 meq)
  2. Average = 10 g (170 meq)
  3. Adult = 140 to 250 meq/24 hours (140 to 250 mmol/day)
  4. Child <6 years = 15 to 40 meq/24 hours (15 to 40 mmol/day)
  5. Child 10 to 14 years = 64 to 176 meq/24 hours (64 to176 mmol/day)
  6. Values varies with salt intake and perspiration.
 24 hours urine sample It is part of the acid-base balance.
  • Creatinine
  1. Male = 14 to 26 mg/kg/body weight/day  (124 to230 µmol/kg/day)
  2. Female = 11 to 20 mg/kg/body weight/day  (97 to 177µmol/kg/day)
 24 hours urine sample
  • Creatine
  1. Male = 0 to 50 mg
  2. Female = 0 to 150 mg
  3. Children = 5.4 to 13.7 mg/kg/body weight
 24 hours urine sample
  • Cystine
  1. Random sample = negative
  2. Adult = <38 mg/day
  3. Child = 5to 31 mg/day
  1. A random urine sample
  2. 24 hours urine sample
  3. 24 hours urine sample
  • Lysozyme
 0 to 3 mg/day 24 hours urine sample
  • Urea
 10 to 35 g (average 15 g) 24 hours urine sample
  • Uric acid
  1. 0.3 to 0.7 g
  2. With normal diet = 250 to 750 mg/day (1.48 to 4.43 mmol/day)
  3. With purine free diet = <400 mg/day (<2.48 mmol/day)
  4. With high purine diet = <1000 mg/day (<5.9 mmol/day)
 24 hours urine sample
  • Calcium
  1. 50 to 400 mg (2.5 to 20 meq)
  2. Normal diet = 100 to 300 mg/day (2.5 to 7.5 mmol/day)
  3. Low-calcium diet = 50 to 150 mg/day (1.25 to 3.75 mmol/day)
 24 hours urine sample
  • Magnesium
  1. 75 to 150 mg/day (3.0 to 6.0 meq/day
  2. or 3.0 to 6.0 mmol/day
  • Sodium
  1. 80 to 290 meq
  2. Adult = 40 to 220 meq/24 hours (40 to 220 mmol/day)
  3. Child = 41 to 115 meq/24 hours 41 to 115 mmol/day)
  4. Values depend upon diet
  1. 24 hours urine sample
  • Potassium
  1. 25 to 100 meq
  2. Adult = 25 to 125 meq/24 hours (25 to 125 mmol/day)
  3. Child = 10 to 60 meq/24 hours (10 to 60 mmol/day)
  4. Values depend upon diet
  1. 24 hours urine sample
  • Phosphate
 0.5 to 2.2 g (average 1.0 g) 24 hours urine sample
  • Oxalate
  1. Men = <55 mg/day (<6.11 µmol/day)
  2. Women = <50 mg/day (<555 µmol/day)
 24 hours urine sample
  • Sulfates
  1. Inorganic = 0.25 to 1.25 g
  2. Total = 0.36 to 1.44 g
 24 hours urine sample
  • Bilirubin
  1. Negative
  2. May find 0 to 0.02 mg;dL (0 to 0.34 µmol/L)
 A random sample (Check within one hour)
  1. Urine bilirubin is negative in hemolytic disease.
  2. It appears in the urine before other S/S of liver disease
  • Urobilinogen
  1. Random sample = <1 mg/dL
  2. 2 hours sample = <1 mg/2 hours
  3. 24 hours sample = 0.5 to 4.0 mg/day
  1. A random sample
  2. Collect 2 hours of a urine sample
  3. Collect 24 hours urine sample
  1. It rapidly decomposed at room temperature
  2. Also, when exposed to light
  • Ammonia
  • 10 to 105 meq
  • 24 hours urine sample
  • It is part of the acid-base balance
  • Hemoglobin
  • Negative
  • A random sample
  • It indicates extensive burns or crushing injuries
  • Myoglobin
 Negative A random sample
  • Nitrite
  • Negative
  • A random sample (Fasting sample is better)
  • A negative test does not rule out bacteria in the urine
  • Leukocyte esterase
  • Negative
  • A random sample
  • The positive test needs a urine culture
  • HCG
  1. Pregnant = positive
  2. Nonpregnant = Negative
  • A random urine sample
  • It is advised in pregnancy and follow-up of tumors
  • 5-hydroxy indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)
  1. Qualitative= negative
  2. Quantitative = 2 to 7 mg/day (11 to 37 µmol/day)
  1. A random sample
  2. 24 hours urine sample
  • It helps to diagnose carcinoid tumors
  • Vanilylmandelic acid (VMA)
  1. Adult =upto 9 mg/day (up to 45 µmol/day)
  2. Children’s values are different
  • 24 hours urine sample
  1. It is advised to diagnose pheochromocytoma
  2. It is raised in neuroblastoma
  • Catecholamines
  1. Catecholamine total = <1000 µg/day (<591 nmol/day)
  2. Epinephrine = 0 to 20 µg/day (0 to 109 nmol/day)
  3. Metanephrine = 74 to 297 µg/day (375 to 1506 nmol/day)
  4. Norepinephrine = 15 to 80 µg/day (89 to 473 nmol/day)
  5. Normetanephrine = 105 to 354 µg/day (573 to 1933 nmol/day)
  6. Dopamine = 65 to 400 µg/day (420 to 2612 nmol/day)
  7. Children’s values are different
 24 hours urine sample
  • These are advised in pheochromocytoma and other tumors producing catecholamines.
  • Porphyrins
  • Qualitative = Negative
  • A random urine sample
  • It diagnoses porphyrias, lead poisoning, liver diseases, pellagra, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
  • Porphobilinogen
  1. Random sample = 0 to 20 mg/L (negative or 0 to 8.8 µmol/L)
  2. 0 to 1.5 mg/day (0 to 6.6 mg/day)

 
  1. A random urine sample
  2. 24 hours urine sample
  • It diagnoses diseases like porphyrins.
  • Amylase
  1. 2 hours sample = 2 to 34 U (or 16 to 283 nkat/hours)
  2. 24 to 408 U ( or 400 to 6800 nkat/day)
  1. 2 hours urine sample
  2. 24 hours urine sample
  • It is increased in acute pancreatitis, mumps, or trauma to the pancreas
  • It is increased in pancreatic cancers,
  • Phenylketonuria
  1. Random  = Negative dipstick
  2. Phenylalanine = Positive in the range of 5 to 10 mg/dL (302 to 605 µmol/day)
  3. 7 to 10 weeks after birth = 1.2 to 1.7 mg/day
  4. Adult = <16.5 mg/day (<100 µmol/day)
  5. Children (3 to 12 years) = 4.0 to 17.5 mg/day (24 to 106 µmol/day)
  1. A random urine sample
  2. 24 hours urine sample
  3. 24 hours urine sample
  4. 24 hours urine sample
  5. 24 hours urine sample
Microscopic characteristics  
  • RBCs
  1. 0 to 3 RBCs/HPF
  2. 0/Low power field
 A random sample The persistent presence of RBCs in the urine needs thorough investigations
  • RBC cast
 0/HPF A random sample Indicates hemorrhage in the nephron
  • WBCs
  1. 0 to 4/HPF
  2. Female = slightly more
 A random sample Urine culture should be done when increased WBCs are found
  • WBC cast
 Negative A random urine sample Seen in renal inflammatory diseases
  • Epithelial cells
  1. Renal tubular cells= 0 to 3/HPF
  2. Squamous cells = Commonly seen
 A random sample
  • Hyaline cast
 Occasional 0 to 2/HPF A random sample Usually seen when there is damage to the glomerular capillary membrane
  • Granular cast
 Occasional 0 to 2/HPF A random sample These indicate renal disease
  • Waxy cast
 Negative A random sample In renal failure (severe renal disease)
  • Fatty cast
 Negative A random urine sample Seen in diabetic nephropathy
  • Trichomonas vaginalis
 Absent A random urine sample UTI due to Trichomonas vaginalis
  • Yeast cell
 Absent A random urine sample Genitourinary infection

 

Summary of the urine analysis

Summary of the urine analysis

Questions and answers:

Q1: What is the significance of a waxy cast.

Q2: Is there any significance of the amylase in the urine.

Possible References Used
Go Back to Lab Tests

Comments

Guruprasad Panamalai Reply
August 9, 2022

Respected Doctor sahab,

Recently my sister’s 90 years old mother in law had a urine test.

Following is an excerpt from her urine test report:

“Urine r/e – sugar trace, 1 – 2 epi cells, 2 – 4 WBC, occ RBC. Urine culture: No growth”.

Instead of mentioning the number of RBC, the hospital has mentioned “occ RBC” .

1. What does “occ RBC” mean?
2. How many RBC is meant by “occ RBC”?
3. Does it indicate any serious condition?

I would be grateful if you kindly let me know.

Best regards.

Dr. Riaz Reply
August 9, 2022

Occasional RBC is normal. WBC 2 to 4, Epithelial cells 1 to 2 are normal. Sugar trace needs workup to rule out diabetes mellitus. There is no need to worry about RBC, WBC, and epithelial cells.

Amz Mathew Reply
December 11, 2022

Dear Doctor Sir,
Hope you are doing good, recently my mother was diagnosed with diabetes, in her urine examination report it says a few things I want to clarify that:

Urine MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
1. Pus cells : 0 – 2 /HPF; is it normal or something to worry?
2. Red Blood Cells : Absent /HPF; HPF is normal or something alarming?
3. SUGAR : Present 1.0 %.

Is it expected that a person with diabetes has glucose/ sugar present in their urine?

Dr. Riaz Reply
December 12, 2022

WBC 0 t0 2 are normal. Mostly RBCs are absent in the urine. Only urine sugar is abnormal, and it appears in the urine when the blood sugar level is above 180 mg/dL. As a rule, urine should be negative for sugar. So you can control Diabetes mellitus by checking the urine sugar, which should always be negative.

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