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Urine Normal Values, and Their Significance

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
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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.

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