Urine White Cells (Leucocytes)

Overview

Urine white cells, or leukocytes, are part of your immune system and help fight off infections. Normally, very few or no white blood cells should be present in your urine. When white cells are found, it’s often a sign that something is irritating or infecting your urinary tract, bladder, or kidneys. This could be due to a urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney infection, or inflammation somewhere in the urinary system. In women, vaginal contamination can sometimes show up as white cells, and in men, an inflamed prostate may contribute. The presence of white cells is like the body waving a little flag, saying "something’s not quite right" - and it’s worth investigating further.

Testing Levels:

• High (10 10^6/L) - High levels of white cells in the urine suggest inflammation or infection in the urinary tract. This often points to a UTI or a kidney infection, especially if accompanied by symptoms like pain when urinating, frequent urges to go, cloudy or smelly urine, or lower back pain. In more severe cases, it may indicate a deeper infection or an obstruction, like a kidney stone. It’s important to follow up with your healthcare provider and, if needed, get a urine culture to identify the cause.
  
  
• Mid - A normal result means there are no signs of infection or inflammation in your urinary tract. Your immune system isn’t sending white blood cells to fight anything in your urine, and everything looks healthy from a kidney and bladder perspective. This is the ideal outcome and no action is needed.
  
  When levels are just slightly raised, it may mean a mild irritation or early infection. It could also be due to contamination during sample collection. In these cases, your doctor might recommend repeating the test or doing a urine culture to check for bacteria. It’s a good time to stay hydrated, monitor symptoms, and follow up if needed.
  
  There’s no concern with being close to the lower limit - in fact, white cells are normally absent or present in only very tiny amounts in healthy urine.
  
  
• Low ( 10^6/L) - Low or undetectable levels of white cells are completely normal. It means your urinary system is not inflamed or infected - just how it should be.

Why We Test Urine White Cells (Leucocytes)

This test is a key screening tool for urinary tract infections, kidney infections, and inflammation. It’s particularly important if you’re experiencing symptoms like pain while urinating, frequent urination, or cloudy or smelly urine. Even without symptoms, the presence of white cells might catch an issue early, before it becomes a bigger problem. It’s also helpful for monitoring urinary health in people with known kidney or bladder conditions.

What Affects It

White cells in urine can be caused by UTIs, kidney infections (like pyelonephritis), bladder inflammation (cystitis), kidney stones, or trauma. In females, contamination from vaginal secretions or menstruation can also result in a falsely elevated reading. In males, prostate inflammation may contribute. Recent sexual activity, poor sample collection technique, or holding urine too long can also affect results.

How to Improve

If white cell levels are high or borderline high, it’s important to address any underlying infection. That might include antibiotics (if bacteria are present), drinking plenty of water, avoiding bladder irritants (like caffeine and alcohol), and practising good hygiene. For women, wiping front to back and avoiding scented products around the genitals can help prevent infections. If it’s just a one-off, a repeat test may be enough to check if things have settled. If results are normal, great - no changes are needed, but continue to stay hydrated and practise healthy urinary habits.

Common Name: Urinary Leukocytes