Urine
Urine screening
Laboratory screening of ten urine parameters, including protein, glucose, blood cells, nitrite, pH and specific gravity. You collect the sample at home.
€ 35,00
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Urine tests · Urine
Leukocytes
White blood cells in the urine; a sign of inflammation, usually a bladder infection.
At a glance
- Measured in urine
- In 1 test panel
- Check the preparation
Explanation
Leukocytes: what is measured?
The pad reacts to an enzyme (leukocyte esterase) from white blood cells (leukocytes). White blood cells appear in the urine with inflammation of the bladder, the kidneys or the urethra. The dipstick also detects white blood cells that have already broken apart.
What can it detect?
- A bladder infection or kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
- Inflammation of the urethra, for example due to an STI
- Contamination of the urine with vaginal discharge
Result
What does the result mean?
Positive result
A positive result fits inflammation in the urinary tract, usually a bladder infection, especially if there are also symptoms such as frequent and painful urination. It is also often caused by contamination of the sample with vaginal discharge, for example with a vaginal infection or around menstruation. An STI such as chlamydia or trichomonas can cause white blood cells in the urine while the urine culture shows no bacteria. Kidney stones can also make the result positive.
Negative result
A negative result makes a bladder infection less likely, especially if nitrite and blood are also negative. A lot of glucose or protein in the urine, very concentrated urine and some antibiotics can weaken the reaction.
After an abnormal result
According to the Dutch GP guideline (NHG) on urinary tract infections, the GP looks at the combination with symptoms, nitrite and blood. If nitrite is negative and there is doubt, a dipslide, culture or sediment test follows. With white blood cells without bacteria and a chance of an STI, testing for STIs follows.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
A urine dipstick is a quick screening and not a diagnosis. According to the Dutch GP guideline (NHG) on urinary tract infections, the dipstick is a first step with symptoms that fit a bladder infection; if in doubt, a culture or sediment test follows. For detecting kidney damage, the dipstick is less sensitive than the albumin-creatinine ratio in urine and the eGFR in blood; the NHG guideline on chronic kidney damage is based on those. In people without symptoms, most abnormal dipstick results are temporary or harmless; a single abnormal result therefore says little.
What can affect the result?
- Sample collection: preferably use first morning urine or urine that has been in the bladder for at least 4 hours, and after washing, catch the middle part of the stream (midstream), so that no discharge or skin bacteria get into it.
- Menstruation, and the days before and after it, often gives a positive result for blood and sometimes for leukocytes and protein; it is better to collect at another time.
- Vitamin C (supplements or a lot of fruit juice) can suppress the reaction for blood, glucose, nitrite and bilirubin and give a false negative result.
- Heavy exercise, fever and dehydration in the day before sample collection can temporarily cause protein, blood or ketones. Urine that has been standing for a long time or has become warm gives less reliable results, especially for nitrite, bilirubin, urobilinogen and pH.
Preparation
- Preferably use the first morning urine, or urine that has been in your bladder for at least 4 hours.
- Collect the middle part of the stream.
- Do not collect urine during your period.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
Useful with symptoms that may fit a bladder infection, such as frequent and painful urination, or as a simple addition to blood tests for the kidneys, sugar or liver. For detecting kidney damage in diabetes or high blood pressure, the albumin-creatinine ratio in urine says more than the dipstick. In people without symptoms and without risk factors, the chance of a harmless abnormality is greater than the chance of a real condition.
How common is it?
Bladder infection is one of the most common infections in women; in men it is much less common. Chronic kidney damage occurs in about 1 in 10 adults, usually without symptoms. In people without symptoms, an abnormality on the dipstick is found in some, usually without a serious cause.
NHG guideline on urinary tract infections; NHG guideline on chronic kidney damage
Get tested
Leukocytes: test panels
Leukocytes is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
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